Chorismate biosynthesis enzymes

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a chorismate biosynthetic enzyme. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme in a transformed host cell.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/093,611, filed Jul. 21,1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is in the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding enzymes involved in chorismate biosynthesis in plants and seeds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Chorismate biosynthesis involves the last few steps in the common pathway for the production of the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan. Dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase catalyzes the formation of shikimate during chorismate biosynthesis. This is a bifunctional enzyme for which prokaryote, yeast, fungal, pea and tobacco homologues have been previously identified (Deka et al. (1994) FEBS Lett. 349:397-402; Bonner and Jensen (1994) Biochem J 302:11-14). In the next step in the chorismate pathway shikimate kinase uses ATP in the presence of magnesium ions to produce shikimate 3-phosphate. This enzyme has been described for prokaryotes and fungi (Kaneko (1996) DNA Res. 3:109-136), and for tomato (Schmid et al.(1992) Plant J 2:375-383). The tomato gene encodes a polypeptide containing a chloroplast-specific transit peptide.

[0004] Manipulating either the amount or activity of these enzymes would afford manipulation of the ratio of aromatic to non-aromatic amino acids in plants, including corn, rice, sorghum, soybean and wheat. These enzymes should also be useful for high throughput screening of compounds suitable for use as herbicides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The instant invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding chorismate biosynthetic enzymes. Specifically, this invention concerns an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase and an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is substantially similar to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase. In addition, this invention relates to a nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to the nucleic acid fragment encoding dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or shikimate kinase.

[0006] An additional embodiment of the instant invention pertains to a polypeptide encoding all or a substantial portion of a chorismate biosynthetic enzyme selected from the group consisting of dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase and shikimate kinase.

[0007] In another embodiment, the instant invention relates to a chimeric gene encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase, or to a chimeric gene that comprises a nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to a nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of levels of the encoded protein in a transformed host cell that is altered (i.e., increased or decreased) from the level produced in an untransformed host cell.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the instant invention concerns a transformed host cell comprising in its genome a chimeric gene encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences. Expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the encoded protein in the transformed host cell. The transformed host cell can be of eukaryotic or prokaryotic origin, and include cells derived from higher plants and microorganisms. The invention also includes transformed plants that arise from transformed host cells of higher plants, and seeds derived from such transformed plants.

[0009] An additional embodiment of the instant invention concerns a method of altering the level of expression of a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase in a transformed host cell comprising: a) transforming a host cell with a chimeric gene comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase; and b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or shikimate kinase in the transformed host cell.

[0010] An addition embodiment of the instant invention concerns a method for obtaining a nucleic acid fragment encoding all or a substantial portion of an amino acid sequence encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase.

[0011] A further embodiment of the instant invention is a method for evaluating at least one compound for its ability to inhibit the activity of a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a host cell with a chimeric gene comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or a shikimate kinase, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; (b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or shikimate kinase in the transformed host cell; (c) optionally purifying the dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or the shikimate kinase expressed by the transformed host cell; (d) treating the dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or the shikimate kinase with a compound to be tested; and (e) comparing the activity of the dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or the shikimate kinase that has been treated with a test compound to the activity of an untreated dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase or shikimate kinase, thereby selecting compounds with potential for inhibitory activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTINGS

[0012] The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying Sequence Listing which form a part of this application.

[0013] Table 1 lists the polypeptides that are described herein, the designation of the cDNA clones that comprise the nucleic acid fragments encoding polypeptides representing all or a substantial portion of these polypeptides, and the corresponding identifier (SEQ ID NO:) as used in the attached Sequence Listing. The sequence descriptions and Sequence Listing attached hereto comply with the rules governing nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence disclosures in patent applications as set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.821-1.825. TABLE 1 Chorismate Biosynthetic Enzymes SEQ ID NO: Protein Clone Designation (Nucleotide) (Amino Acid) Corn Dehydroquinase/Shikimate p0010.cbpbq21rb 1 2 Dehydrogenase Rice Dehydroquinase/Shikimate rlr48.pk0025.f2 3 4 Dehydrogenase Soybean Dehydroquinase/ sdp3c.pk002A.i15 5 6 Shikimate Dehydrogenase Wheat Dehydroquinase/ wle1n.pk0002.d3 7 8 Shikimate Dehydrogenase Corn Shikimate Kinase cca.pk0011.e10 9 10 Corn Shikimate Kinase cen3n.pk0153.d11 11 12 Corn Shikimate Kinase Contig of: 13 14 cco1n.pk053.k5 csi1n.pk0003.h4 p0004.cb1je66rb Rice Shikimate Kinase r10.pk0003.e4 15 16 Rice Shikimate Kinase r10n.pk0037.b5 17 18 Sorghum Shikimate Kinase sgr16.pk0001.d5 19 20 Soybean Shikimate Kinase sfl1.pk0022.e8 21 22 Soybean Shikimate Kinase sfl1.pk0058.d1 23 24 Wheat Shikimate Kinase wr1.pk0099.b12 25 26 Wheat Shikimate Kinase wr1.pk0122.a3 27 28

[0014] The Sequence Listing contains the one letter code for nucleotide sequence characters and the three letter codes for amino acids as defined in conformity with the IUPAC-IUBMB standards described in Nucleic Acids Research 13:3021-3030 (1985) and in the Biochemical Journal 219 (No. 2):345-373 (1984) which are herein incorporated by reference. The symbols and format used for nucleotide and amino acid sequence data comply with the rules set forth in 37 C.F.R. §1.822.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the context of this disclosure, a number of terms shall be utilized. As used herein, a “nucleic acid fragment” is a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, optionally containing synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. A nucleic acid fragment in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA or synthetic DNA.

[0016] As used herein, “contig” refers to a nucleotide sequence that is assembled from two or more constituent nucleotide sequences that share common or overlapping regions of sequence homology. For example, the nucleotide sequences of two or more nucleic acid fragments can be compared and aligned in order to identify common or overlapping sequences. Where common or overlapping sequences exist between two or more nucleic acid fragments, the sequences (and thus their corresponding nucleic acid fragments) can be assembled into a single contiguous nucleotide sequence.

[0017] As used herein, “substantially similar” refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases results in substitution of one or more amino acids, but do not affect the functional properties of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleotide sequence. “Substantially similar” also refers to nucleic acid fragments wherein changes in one or more nucleotide bases does not affect the ability of the nucleic acid fragment to mediate alteration of gene expression by gene silencing through for example antisense or co-suppression technology. “Substantially similar” also refers to modifications of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention such as deletion or insertion of one or more nucleotides that do not substantially affect the functional properties of the resulting transcript vis-à-vis the ability to mediate gene silencing or alteration of the functional properties of the resulting protein molecule. It is therefore understood that the invention encompasses more than the specific exemplary nucleotide or amino acid sequences and includes functional equivalents thereof.

[0018] For example, it is well known in the art that antisense suppression and co-suppression of gene expression may be accomplished using nucleic acid fragments representing less than the entire coding region of a gene, and by nucleic acid fragments that do not share 100% sequence identity with the gene to be suppressed. Moreover, alterations in a nucleic acid fragment which result in the production of a chemically equivalent amino acid at a given site, but do not effect the functional properties of the encoded polypeptide, are well known in the art. Thus, a codon for the amino acid alanine, a hydrophobic amino acid, may be substituted by a codon encoding another less hydrophobic residue, such as glycine, or a more hydrophobic residue, such as valine, leucine, or isoleucine. Similarly, changes which result in substitution of one negatively charged residue for another, such as aspartic acid for glutamic acid, or one positively charged residue for another, such as lysine for arginine, can also be expected to produce a functionally equivalent product. Nucleotide changes which result in alteration of the N-terminal and C-terminal portions of the polypeptide molecule would also not be expected to alter the activity of the polypeptide. Each of the proposed modifications is well within the routine skill in the art, as is determination of retention of biological activity of the encoded products.

[0019] Moreover, substantially similar nucleic acid fragments may also be characterized by their ability to hybridize. Estimates of such homology are provided by either DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridization under conditions of stringency as is well understood by those skilled in the art (Hames and Higgins, Eds. (1985) Nucleic Acid Hybridisation, IRL Press, Oxford, U.K.). Stringency conditions can be adjusted to screen for moderately similar fragments, such as homologous sequences from distantly related organisms, to highly similar fragments, such as genes that duplicate functional enzymes from closely related organisms. Post-hybridization washes determine stringency conditions. One set of preferred conditions uses a series of washes starting with 6×SSC, 0.5% SDS at room temperature for 15 min, then repeated with 2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 45° C. for 30 min, and then repeated twice with 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS at 50° C. for 30 min. A more preferred set of stringent conditions uses higher temperatures in which the washes are identical to those above except for the temperature of the final two 30 min washes in 0.2×SSC, 0.5% SDS was increased to 60° C. Another preferred set of highly stringent conditions uses two final washes in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C.

[0020] Substantially similar nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may also be characterized by the percent identity of the amino acid sequences that they encode to the amino acid sequences disclosed herein, as determined by algorithms commonly employed by those skilled in this art. Preferred are those nucleic acid fragments whose nucleotide sequences encode amino acid sequences that are 80% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. More preferred nucleic acid fragments encode amino acid sequences that are 90% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Most preferred are nucleic acid fragments that encode amino acid sequences that are 95% identical to the amino acid sequences reported herein. Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASARGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5.

[0021] A “substantial portion” of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence comprises an amino acid or a nucleotide sequence that is sufficient to afford putative identification of the protein or gene that the amino acid or nucleotide sequence comprises. Amino acid and nucleotide sequences can be evaluated either manually by one skilled in the art, or by using computer-based sequence comparison and identification tools that employ algorithms such as BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al. (1993) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/). In general, a sequence of ten or more contiguous amino acids or thirty or more contiguous nucleotides is necessary in order to putatively identify a polypeptide or nucleic acid sequence as homologous to a known protein or gene. Moreover, with respect to nucleotide sequences, gene-specific oligonucleotide probes comprising 30 or more contiguous nucleotides may be used in sequence-dependent methods of gene identification (e.g., Southern hybridization) and isolation (e.g., in situ hybridization of bacterial colonies or bacteriophage plaques). In addition, short oligonucleotides of 12 or more nucleotides may be used as amplification primers in PCR in order to obtain a particular nucleic acid fragment comprising the primers. Accordingly, a “substantial portion” of a nucleotide sequence comprises a nucleotide sequence that will afford specific identification and/or isolation of a nucleic acid fragment comprising the sequence. The instant specification teaches amino acid and nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides that comprise one or more particular plant proteins. The skilled artisan, having the benefit of the sequences as reported herein, may now use all or a substantial portion of the disclosed sequences for purposes known to those skilled in this art. Accordingly, the instant invention comprises the complete sequences as reported in the accompanying Sequence Listing, as well as substantial portions of those sequences as defined above.

[0022] “Codon degeneracy” refers to divergence in the genetic code permitting variation of the nucleotide sequence without effecting the amino acid sequence of an encoded polypeptide. Accordingly, the instant invention relates to any nucleic acid fragment comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequences set forth herein. The skilled artisan is well aware of the “codon-bias” exhibited by a specific host cell in usage of nucleotide codons to specify a given amino acid. Therefore, when synthesizing a nucleic acid fragment for improved expression in a host cell, it is desirable to design the nucleic acid fragment such that its frequency of codon usage approaches the frequency of preferred codon usage of the host cell.

[0023] “Synthetic nucleic acid fragments” can be assembled from oligonucleotide building blocks that are chemically synthesized using procedures known to those skilled in the art. These building blocks are ligated and annealed to form larger nucleic acid fragments which may then be enzymatically assembled to construct the entire desired nucleic acid fragment. “Chemically synthesized”, as related to nucleic acid fragment, means that the component nucleotides were assembled in vitro. Manual chemical synthesis of nucleic acid fragments may be accomplished using well established procedures, or automated chemical synthesis can be performed using one of a number of commercially available machines. Accordingly, the nucleic acid fragments can be tailored for optimal gene expression based on optimization of nucleotide sequence to reflect the codon bias of the host cell. The skilled artisan appreciates the likelihood of successful gene expression if codon usage is biased towards those codons favored by the host. Determination of preferred codons can be based on a survey of genes derived from the host cell where sequence information is available.

[0024] “Gene” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5′ non-coding sequences) and following (3′ non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. “Native gene” refers to a gene as found in nature with its own regulatory sequences. “Chimeric gene” refers any gene that is not a native gene, comprising regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. Accordingly, a chimeric gene may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. “Endogenous gene” refers to a native gene in its natural location in the genome of an organism. A “foreign” gene refers to a gene not normally found in the host organism, but that is introduced into the host organism by gene transfer. Foreign genes can comprise native genes inserted into a non-native organism, or chimeric genes. A “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure.

[0025] “Coding sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence that codes for a specific amino acid sequence. “Regulatory sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located upstream (5′ non-coding sequences), within, or downstream (3′ non-coding sequences) of a coding sequence, and which influence the transcription, RNA processing or stability, or translation of the associated coding sequence. Regulatory sequences may include promoters, translation leader sequences, introns, and polyadenylation recognition sequences.

[0026] “Promoter” refers to a nucleotide sequence capable of controlling the expression of a coding sequence or functional RNA. In general, a coding sequence is located 3′ to a promoter sequence. The promoter sequence consists of proximal and more distal upstream elements, the latter elements often referred to as enhancers. Accordingly, an “enhancer” is a nucleotide sequence which can stimulate promoter activity and may be an innate element of the promoter or a heterologous element inserted to enhance the level or tissue-specificity of a promoter. Promoters may be derived in their entirety from a native gene, or be composed of different elements derived from different promoters found in nature, or even comprise synthetic nucleotide segments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that different promoters may direct the expression of a gene in different tissues or cell types, or at different stages of development, or in response to different environmental conditions. Promoters which cause a nucleic acid fragment to be expressed in most cell types at most times are commonly referred to as “constitutive promoters. New promoters of various types useful in plant cells are constantly being discovered; numerous examples may be found in the compilation by Okamuro and Goldberg (1989) Biochemistry of Plants 15:1-82. It is further recognized that since in most cases the exact boundaries of regulatory sequences have not been completely defined, nucleic acid fragments of different lengths may have identical promoter activity.

[0027] The “translation leader sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence located between the promoter sequence of a gene and the coding sequence. The translation leader sequence is present in the fully processed mRNA upstream of the translation start sequence. The translation leader sequence may affect processing of the primary transcript to mRNA, mRNA stability or translation efficiency. Examples of translation leader sequences have been described (Turner and Foster (1995) Molecular Biotechnology 3:225).

[0028] The “3′ non-coding sequences” refer to nucleotide sequences located downstream of a coding sequence and include polyadenylation recognition sequences and other sequences encoding regulatory signals capable of affecting mRNA processing or gene expression. The polyadenylation signal is usually characterized by affecting the addition of polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor. The use of different 3′ non-coding sequences is exemplified by Ingelbrecht et al. (1989) Plant Cell 1:671-680.

[0029] “RNA transcript” refers to the product resulting from RNA polymerase-catalyzed transcription of a DNA sequence. When the RNA transcript is a perfect complementary copy of the DNA sequence, it is referred to as the primary transcript or it may be a RNA sequence derived from posttranscriptional processing of the primary transcript and is referred to as the mature RNA. “Messenger RNA (mRNA)” refers to the RNA that is without introns and that can be translated into polypeptide by the cell. “cDNA” refers to a double-stranded DNA that is complementary to and derived from mRNA. “Sense” RNA refers to an RNA transcript that includes the mRNA and so can be translated into a polypeptide by the cell. “Antisense RNA” refers to an RNA transcript that is complementary to all or part of a target primary transcript or mRNA and that blocks the expression of a target gene (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,065, incorporated herein by reference). The complementarity of an antisense RNA may be with any part of the specific nucleotide sequence, i.e., at the 5′ non-coding sequence, 3′ non-coding sequence, introns, or the coding sequence. “Functional RNA” refers to sense RNA, antisense RNA, ribozyme RNA, or other RNA that may not be translated but yet has an effect on cellular processes.

[0030] The term “operably linked” refers to the association of two or more nucleic acid fragments on a single nucleic acid fragment so that the function of one is affected by the other. For example, a promoter is operably linked with a coding sequence when it is capable of affecting the expression of that coding sequence (i.e., that the coding sequence is under the transcriptional control of the promoter). Coding sequences can be operably linked to regulatory sequences in sense or antisense orientation.

[0031] The term “expression”, as used herein, refers to the transcription and stable accumulation of sense (mRNA) or antisense RNA derived from the nucleic acid fragment of the invention. Expression may also refer to translation of mRNA into a polypeptide. “Antisense inhibition” refers to the production of antisense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of the target protein. “Overexpression” refers to the production of a gene product in transgenic organisms that exceeds levels of production in normal or non-transformed organisms. “Co-suppression” refers to the production of sense RNA transcripts capable of suppressing the expression of identical or substantially similar foreign or endogenous genes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,020, incorporated herein by reference).

[0032] “Altered levels” refers to the production of gene product(s) in transgenic organisms in amounts or proportions that differ from that of normal or non-transformed organisms.

[0033] “Mature” protein refers to a post-translationally processed polypeptide; i.e., one from which any pre- or propeptides present in the primary translation product have been removed. “Precursor” protein refers to the primary product of translation of mRNA; i.e., with pre- and propeptides still present. Pre- and propeptides may be but are not limited to intracellular localization signals.

[0034] A “chloroplast transit peptide” is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the chloroplast or other plastid types present in the cell in which the protein is made. “Chloroplast transit sequence” refers to a nucleotide sequence that encodes a chloroplast transit peptide. A “signal peptide” is an amino acid sequence which is translated in conjunction with a protein and directs the protein to the secretory system (Chrispeels (1991) Ann. Rev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53). If the protein is to be directed to a vacuole, a vacuolar targeting signal (supra) can further be added, or if to the endoplasmic reticulum, an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal (supra) may be added. If the protein is to be directed to the nucleus, any signal peptide present should be removed and instead a nuclear localization signal included (Raikhel (1992) Plant Phys. 100:1627-1632).

[0035] “Transformation” refers to the transfer of a nucleic acid fragment into the genome of a host organism, resulting in genetically stable inheritance. Host organisms containing the transformed nucleic acid fragments are referred to as “transgenic” organisms. Examples of methods of plant transformation include Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (De Blaere et al. (1987) Meth. Enzymol. 143:277) and particle-accelerated or “gene gun” transformation technology (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70-73; U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050, incorporated herein by reference).

[0036] Standard recombinant DNA and molecular cloning techniques used herein are well known in the art and are described more fully in Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Cold Spring Harbor, 1989 (hereinafter “Maniatis”).

[0037] Nucleic acid fragments encoding at least a portion of several chorismate biosynthetic enzymes have been isolated and identified by comparison of random plant cDNA sequences to public databases containing nucleotide and protein sequences using the BLAST algorithms well known to those skilled in the art. The nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to isolate cDNAs and genes encoding homologous proteins from the same or other plant species. Isolation of homologous genes using sequence-dependent protocols is well known in the art. Examples of sequence-dependent protocols include, but are not limited to, methods of nucleic acid hybridization, and methods of DNA and RNA amplification as exemplified by various uses of nucleic acid amplification technologies (e.g., polymerase chain reaction, ligase chain reaction).

[0038] For example, genes encoding other dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenases or shikimate kinases, either as cDNAs or genomic DNAs, could be isolated directly by using all or a portion of the instant nucleic acid fragments as DNA hybridization probes to screen libraries from any desired plant employing methodology well known to those skilled in the art. Specific oligonucleotide probes based upon the instant nucleic acid sequences can be designed and synthesized by methods known in the art (Maniatis). Moreover, the entire sequences can be used directly to synthesize DNA probes by methods known to the skilled artisan such as random primer DNA labeling, nick translation, or end-labeling techniques, or RNA probes using available in vitro transcription systems. In addition, specific primers can be designed and used to amplify a part or all of the instant sequences. The resulting amplification products can be labeled directly during amplification reactions or labeled after amplification reactions, and used as probes to isolate fall length cDNA or genomic fragments under conditions of appropriate stringency.

[0039] In addition, two short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols to amplify longer nucleic acid fragments encoding homologous genes from DNA or RNA. The polymerase chain reaction may also be performed on a library of cloned nucleic acid fragments wherein the sequence of one primer is derived from the instant nucleic acid fragments, and the sequence of the other primer takes advantage of the presence of the polyadenylic acid tracts to the 3′ end of the mRNA precursor encoding plant genes. Alternatively, the second primer sequence may be based upon sequences derived from the cloning vector. For example, the skilled artisan can follow the RACE protocol (Frohman et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8998) to generate cDNAs by using PCR to amplify copies of the region between a single point in the transcript and the 3′ or 5′ end. Primers oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions can be designed from the instant sequences. Using commercially available 3′ RACE or 5′ RACE systems (BRL), specific 3′ or 5′ cDNA fragments can be isolated (Ohara et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5673; Loh et al. (1989) Science 243:217). Products generated by the 3′ and 5′ RACE procedures can be combined to generate full-length cDNAs (Frohman and Martin (1989) Techniques 1:165).

[0040] Availability of the instant nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences facilitates immunological screening of cDNA expression libraries. Synthetic peptides representing portions of the instant amino acid sequences may be synthesized. These peptides can be used to immunize animals to produce polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with specificity for peptides or proteins comprising the amino acid sequences. These antibodies can be then be used to screen cDNA expression libraries to isolate full-length cDNA clones of interest (Lerner (1984) Adv. Immunol. 36: 1; Maniatis).

[0041] The nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to create transgenic plants in which the disclosed polypeptides are present at higher or lower levels than normal or in cell types or developmental stages in which they are not normally found. This would have the effect of altering the ratio of aromatic to non-aromatic amino acids in those cells. This may also create plants that are resistant to herbicides.

[0042] Overexpression of the proteins of the instant invention may be accomplished by first constructing a chimeric gene in which the coding region is operably linked to a promoter capable of directing expression of a gene in the desired tissues at the desired stage of development. For reasons of convenience, the chimeric gene may comprise promoter sequences and translation leader sequences derived from the same genes. 3′ Non-coding sequences encoding transcription termination signals may also be provided. The instant chimeric gene may also comprise one or more introns in order to facilitate gene expression.

[0043] Plasmid vectors comprising the instant chimeric gene can then constructed. The choice of plasmid vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform host plants. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the plasmid vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells containing the chimeric gene. The skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al. (1985) EMBO J. 4:2411-2418; De Almeida et al. (1989) Mol. Gen. Genetics 218:78-86), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern. Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA, Northern analysis of mRNA expression, Western analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis.

[0044] For some applications it may be useful to direct the instant polypeptides to different cellular compartments, or to facilitate its secretion from the cell. It is thus envisioned that the chimeric gene described above may be further supplemented by altering the coding sequence to encode the instant polypeptides with appropriate intracellular targeting sequences such as transit sequences (Keegstra (1989) Cell 56:247-253), signal sequences or sequences encoding endoplasmic reticulum localization (Chrispeels (1991) Ann. Rev. Plant Phys. Plant Mol. Biol. 42:21-53), or nuclear localization signals (Raikhel (1992) Plant Phys. 100:1627-1632) added and/or with targeting sequences that are already present removed. While the references cited give examples of each of these, the list is not exhaustive and more targeting signals of utility may be discovered in the future.

[0045] It may also be desirable to reduce or eliminate expression of genes encoding the instant polypeptides in plants for some applications. In order to accomplish this, a chimeric gene designed for co-suppression of the instant polypeptide can be constructed by linking a gene or gene fragment encoding that polypeptide to plant promoter sequences. Alternatively, a chimeric gene designed to express antisense RNA for all or part of the instant nucleic acid fragment can be constructed by linking the gene or gene fragment in reverse orientation to plant promoter sequences. Either the co-suppression or antisense chimeric genes could be introduced into plants via transformation wherein expression of the corresponding endogenous genes are reduced or eliminated.

[0046] Molecular genetic solutions to the generation of plants with altered gene expression have a decided advantage over more traditional plant breeding approaches. Changes in plant phenotypes can be produced by specifically inhibiting expression of one or more genes by antisense inhibition or cosuppression (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,190,931, 5,107,065 and 5,283,323). An antisense or cosuppression construct would act as a dominant negative regulator of gene activity. While conventional mutations can yield negative regulation of gene activity these effects are most likely recessive. The dominant negative regulation available with a transgenic approach may be advantageous from a breeding perspective. In addition, the ability to restrict the expression of specific phenotype to the reproductive tissues of the plant by the use of tissue specific promoters may confer agronomic advantages relative to conventional mutations which may have an effect in all tissues in which a mutant gene is ordinarily expressed.

[0047] The person skilled in the art will know that special considerations are associated with the use of antisense or cosuppresion technologies in order to reduce expression of particular genes. For example, the proper level of expression of sense or antisense genes may require the use of different chimeric genes utilizing different regulatory elements known to the skilled artisan. Once transgenic plants are obtained by one of the methods described above, it will be necessary to screen individual transgenics for those that most effectively display the desired phenotype. Accordingly, the skilled artisan will develop methods for screening large numbers of transformants. The nature of these screens will generally be chosen on practical grounds, and is not an inherent part of the invention. For example, one can screen by looking for changes in gene expression by using antibodies specific for the protein encoded by the gene being suppressed, or one could establish assays that specifically measure enzyme activity. A preferred method will be one which allows large numbers of samples to be processed rapidly, since it will be expected that a large number of transformants will be negative for the desired phenotype.

[0048] The instant polypeptides (or portions thereof) may be produced in heterologous host cells, particularly in the cells of microbial hosts, and can be used to prepare antibodies to the these proteins by methods well known to those skilled in the art. The antibodies are useful for detecting the polypeptides of the instant invention in situ in cells or in vitro in cell extracts. Preferred heterologous host cells for production of the instant polypeptides are microbial hosts. Microbial expression systems and expression vectors containing regulatory sequences that direct high level expression of foreign proteins are well known to those skilled in the art. Any of these could be used to construct a chimeric gene for production of the instant polypeptides. This chimeric gene could then be introduced into appropriate microorganisms via transformation to provide high level expression of the encoded chorismate biosynthetic enzymes. An example of a vector for high level expression of the instant polypeptides in a bacterial host is provided (Example 7).

[0049] Additionally, the instant polypeptides can be used as targets to facilitate design and/or identification of inhibitors of those enzymes that may be useful as herbicides. This is desirable because the polypeptides described herein catalyze various steps in chorismate biosynthesis. Accordingly, inhibition of the activity of one or more of the enzymes described herein could lead to inhibition plant growth. Thus, the instant polypeptides could be appropriate for new herbicide discovery and design.

[0050] All or a substantial portion of the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may also be used as probes for genetically and physically mapping the genes that they are a part of, and as markers for traits linked to those genes. Such information may be useful in plant breeding in order to develop lines with desired phenotypes. For example, the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers. Southern blots (Maniatis) of restriction-digested plant genomic DNA may be probed with the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention. The resulting banding patterns may then be subjected to genetic analyses using computer programs such as MapMaker (Lander et al. (1987) Genomics 1:174-181) in order to construct a genetic map. In addition, the nucleic acid fragments of the instant invention may be used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease-treated genomic DNAs of a set of individuals representing parent and progeny of a defined genetic cross. Segregation of the DNA polymorphisms is noted and used to calculate the position of the instant nucleic acid sequence in the genetic map previously obtained using this population (Botstein et al. (1980) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 32:314-331).

[0051] The production and use of plant gene-derived probes for use in genetic mapping is described in Bernatzky and Tanksley (1986) Plant Mol. Biol. Reporter 4(1):37-41. Numerous publications describe genetic mapping of specific cDNA clones using the methodology outlined above or variations thereof. For example, F2 intercross populations, backcross populations, randomly mated populations, near isogenic lines, and other sets of individuals may be used for mapping. Such methodologies are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0052] Nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may also be used for physical mapping (i.e., placement of sequences on physical maps; see Hoheisel et al. In: Nonmammalian Genomic Analysis: A Practical Guide, Academic press 1996, pp. 319-346, and references cited therein).

[0053] In another embodiment, nucleic acid probes derived from the instant nucleic acid sequences may be used in direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping (Trask (1991) Trends Genet. 7:149-154). Although current methods of FISH mapping favor use of large clones (several to several hundred KB; see Laan et al. (1995) Genome Research 5:13-20), improvements in sensitivity may allow performance of FISH mapping using shorter probes.

[0054] A variety of nucleic acid amplification-based methods of genetic and physical mapping may be carried out using the instant nucleic acid sequences. Examples include allele-specific amplification (Kazazian (1989) J. Lab. Clin. Med. 114(2):95-96), polymorphism of PCR-amplified fragments (CAPS; Sheffield et al. (1993) Genomics 16:325-332), allele-specific ligation (Landegren et al. (1988) Science 241:1077-1080), nucleotide extension reactions (Sokolov (1990) Nucleic Acid Res. 18:3671), Radiation Hybrid Mapping (Walter et al. (1997) Nature Genetics 7:22-28) and Happy Mapping (Dear and Cook (1989) Nucleic Acid Res. 17:6795-6807). For these methods, the sequence of a nucleic acid fragment is used to design and produce primer pairs for use in the amplification reaction or in primer extension reactions. The design of such primers is well known to those skilled in the art. In methods employing PCR-based genetic mapping, it may be necessary to identify DNA sequence differences between the parents of the mapping cross in the region corresponding to the instant nucleic acid sequence. This, however, is generally not necessary for mapping methods.

[0055] Loss of function mutant phenotypes may be identified for the instant cDNA clones either by targeted gene disruption protocols or by identifying specific mutants for these genes contained in a maize population carrying mutations in all possible genes (Ballinger and Benzer (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 86:9402; Koes et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci USA 92:8149; Bensen et al. (1995) Plant Cell 7:75). The latter approach may be accomplished in two ways. First, short segments of the instant nucleic acid fragments may be used in polymerase chain reaction protocols in conjunction with a mutation tag sequence primer on DNAs prepared from a population of plants in which Mutator transposons or some other mutation-causing DNA element has been introduced (see Bensen, supra). The amplification of a specific DNA fragment with these primers indicates the insertion of the mutation tag element in or near the plant gene encoding the instant polypeptides. Alternatively, the instant nucleic acid fragment may be used as a hybridization probe against PCR amplification products generated from the mutation population using the mutation tag sequence primer in conjunction with an arbitrary genomic site primer, such as that for a restriction enzyme site-anchored synthetic adaptor. With either method, a plant containing a mutation in the endogenous gene encoding the instant polypeptides can be identified and obtained. This mutant plant can then be used to determine or confirm the natural function of the instant polypeptides disclosed herein.

EXAMPLES

[0056] The present invention is further defined in the following Examples, in which all parts and percentages are by weight and degrees are Celsius, unless otherwise stated. It should be understood that these Examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. From the above discussion and these Examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Example 1

[0057] Composition of cDNA Libraries; Isolation and Sequencing of cDNA Clones

[0058] cDNA libraries representing mRNAs from various corn, rice, sorghum, soybean and wheat tissues were prepared. The characteristics of the libraries are described below. TABLE 2 cDNA Libraries from Corn, Rice, Sorghum, Soybean and Wheat Library Tissue Clone cca Corn Callus Type II Tissue, Undifferentiated, Highly cca.pk0011.e10 Transformable cco1n Corn Cob of 67 Day Old Plants Grown in Green House* cco1n.pk053.k5 cen3n Corn Endosperm 20 Days After Pollination* cen3n.pk0153.d11 csi1n Corn Silk* csi1n.pk0003.h4 p0004 Corn Immature Ear p0004.cb1je66rb p0010 Corn Log Phase Suspension Cells Treated With A23187** p0010.cbpbq21rb to Induce Mass Apoptosis r10 Rice 15 Day Old Leaf r10.pk0003.e4 r10n Rice 15 Day Old Leaf* r10n.pk0037.b5 rlr48 Rice Leaf 15 Days After Germination, 48 Hours After rlr48.pk0025.f2 Infection of Strain Magaporthe grisea 4360-R-62 (AVR2-YAMO); Resistant sdp3c Soybean Developing Pods (8-9 mm) sdp3c.pk002.i15 sfl1 Soybean Immature Flower sfl1.pk0022.e8 sfl1 Soybean Immature Flower sfl1.pk0058.d1 sgr16 Sorghum root from 11-Day Old Plant, Low Dhurrin sgr16.pk0001.d5 wle1n Wheat Leaf From 7 Day Old Etiolated Seedling* wle1n.pk0002.d3 wr1 Wheat Root From 7 Day Old Seedling wr1.pk0099.b12 wr1 Wheat Root From 7 Day Old Seedling wr1.pk0122.a3

[0059] cDNA libraries may be prepared by any one of many methods available. For example, the cDNAs may be introduced into plasmid vectors by first preparing the cDNA libraries in Uni-ZAP™ XR vectors according to the manufacturer's protocol (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.). The Uni-ZAP™ XR libraries are converted into plasmid libraries according to the protocol provided by Stratagene. Upon conversion, cDNA inserts will be contained in the plasmid vector pBluescript. In addition, the cDNAs may be introduced directly into precut Bluescript II SK(+) vectors (Stratagene) using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs), followed by transfection into DH10B cells according to the manufacturer's protocol (GIBCO BRL Products). Once the cDNA inserts are in plasmid vectors, plasmid DNAs are prepared from randomly picked bacterial colonies containing recombinant pBluescript plasmids, or the insert cDNA sequences are amplified via polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for vector sequences flanking the inserted cDNA sequences. Amplified insert DNAs or plasmid DNAs are sequenced in dye-primer sequencing reactions to generate partial cDNA sequences (expressed sequence tags or “ESTs”; see Adams et al., (1991) Science 252:1651). The resulting ESTs are analyzed using a Perkin Elmer Model 377 fluorescent sequencer.

Example 2

[0060] Identification of cDNA Clones

[0061] cDNA clones encoding chorismate biosynthetic enzymes were identified by conducting BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul et al. (1993) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410; see also www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/) searches for similarity to sequences contained in the BLAST “nr” database (comprising all non-redundant GenBank CDS translations, sequences derived from the 3-dimensional structure Brookhaven Protein Data Bank, the last major release of the SWISS-PROT protein sequence database, EMBL, and DDBJ databases). The cDNA sequences obtained in Example 1 were analyzed for similarity to all publicly available DNA sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTN algorithm provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The DNA sequences were translated in all reading frames and compared for similarity to all publicly available protein sequences contained in the “nr” database using the BLASTX algorithm (Gish and States (1993) Nature Genetics 3:266-272) provided by the NCBI. For convenience, the P-value (probability) of observing a match of a cDNA sequence to a sequence contained in the searched databases merely by chance as calculated by BLAST are reported herein as “pLog” values, which represent the negative of the logarithm of the reported P-value. Accordingly, the greater the pLog value, the greater the likelihood that the cDNA sequence and the BLAST “hit” represent homologous proteins.

Example 3

[0062] Characterization of cDNA Clones Encoding Dehydroquinase/Shikimate Dehydrogenase

[0063] The BLASTX search using the EST sequences from clones listed in Table 3 revealed similarity of the polypeptides encoded by the cDNAs to dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase from Lycopersicon esculentum (NCBI General Identifier No. 3169883). Shown in Table 3 are the BLAST results for individual ESTs (“EST”), or the sequences of the entire cDNA inserts comprising the indicated cDNA clones (“FIS”): TABLE 3 BLAST Results for Sequences Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Dehydroquinase/Shikimate Dehydrogenase BLAST pLog Score Clone Status 3169883 p0010.cbpbq21rb EST 174.00 rlr48.pk0025.f2 FIS 151.00 sdp3c.pk002.i15 FIS 254.00 wle1n.pk0002.d3 FIS  70.40

[0064] The data in Table 4 represents a calculation of the percent identity of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:2, 4, 6 and 8 and the Lycopersicon esculentum (NCBI General Identifier No. 3169883). TABLE 4 Percent Identity of Amino Acid Sequences Deduced From the Nucleotide Sequences of cDNA Clones Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Dehydroquinase/Shikimate Dehydrogenase Percent Identity to SEQ ID NO. 3169883 2 59.6 4 63.7 6 69.0 8 68.8

[0065] Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASARGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5. Sequence alignments and BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the nucleic acid fragments comprising the instant cDNA clones encode an entire soybean dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase and a substantial portion of a corn, a rice and a wheat dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase. These sequences represent the first corn, rice, soybean and wheat sequences encoding dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase.

Example 4

[0066] Characterization of cDNA Clones Encoding Shikimate Kinase

[0067] The BLASTX search using the EST sequences from clones listed in Table 5 revealed similarity of the polypeptides encoded by the cDNAs to shikimate kinase from Arabidopsis thaliana (NCBI General Identifier No. 4417286 and 3608138) and Lycopersicon esculentum (NCBI General Identifier No. 114200). Shown in Table 5 are the BLAST results for individual ESTs (“EST”), the sequences of the entire cDNA inserts comprising the indicated cDNA clones (“FIS”), or contigs assembled from two or more ESTs (“Contig”): TABLE 5 BLAST Results for Sequences Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Shikimate Kinase NCBI General BLAST Clone Status Species Identifier No. pLog Score cca.pk0011.e10 FIS Arabidopsis thaliana 4417286  67.00 cen3n.pk0153.d11 FIS Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 71.70 Contig of: Contig Arabidopsis thaliana 4417286  20.70 cco1n.pk053.k5 csi1n.pk0003.h4 p0004.cb1je66rb r10.pk0003.e4 EST Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 20.00 r10n.pk0037.b5 FIS Arabidopsis thaliana 3608138  76.40 sgr16.pk0001.d5 FIS Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 74.22 sfl1.pk0022.e8 FIS Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 27.52 sfl1.pk0058.d1 EST Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 33.00 wr1.pk0099.b12 FIS Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 71.00 wr1.pk0122.a3 FIS Lycopersicon esculentum 114200 66.00

[0068] Nucleotides 312 to 678 from clone cen3n.pk0153.d11 are 98% identical to nucleotides 366 to 1 from the 366 nucleotide corn EST (NCBI GI No. 4688475). The corn amino acid file set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 was created on Dec. 15, 1998 while the EST file was published on Apr. 26, 1999. The open reading frame from clone cen3n.pk0153.d11 corresponds to nucleotides 2 through 690. Nucleotides 667 to 985 from clone r10n.pk0037.b5 are 97% identical to nucleotides 61 to 380 of a 394 nucleotide rice EST (NCBI GI No. 3768703). The amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:18 corresponds to nucleotides 2 through 279.

[0069] The data in Table 6 represents a calculation of the percent identity of the amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOs:10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 and the Lycopersicon esculentum shikimate kinase (NCBI General Identifier No. 114200). TABLE 6 Percent Identity of Amino Acid Sequences Deduced From the Nucleotide Sequences of cDNA Clones Encoding Polypeptides Homologous to Shikimate Kinase Percent Identity to SEQ ID NO. 114200 10 42.7 12 57.8 14 19.0 16 36.1 18 16.6 20 56.9 22 26.5 24 45.1 26 47.7 28 47.8

[0070] The corn amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:10 is 71.1% identical to the corn amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:12 and 22% identical to the corn amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:14. The rice amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:16 is 13.5% identical to the rice amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:18. The soybean amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:22 is 24.2% identical to the soybean amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:24. The wheat amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:26 is 60.9% identical to the wheat amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:28.

[0071] Sequence alignments and percent identity calculations were performed using the Megalign program of the LASARGENE bioinformatics computing suite (DNASTAR Inc., Madison, Wis.). Multiple alignment of the sequences was performed using the Clustal method of alignment (Higgins and Sharp (1989) CABIOS. 5:151-153) with the default parameters (GAP PENALTY=10, GAP LENGTH PENALTY=10). Default parameters for pairwise alignments using the Clustal method were KTUPLE 1, GAP PENALTY=3, WINDOW=5 and DIAGONALS SAVED=5. Sequence alignments and BLAST scores and probabilities indicate that the nucleic acid fragments comprising the instant cDNA clones encode entire or almost entire corn (three isozymes), rice, sorghum, soybean and wheat (two isozymes) shikimate kinases, and a substantial portion of a rice and a soybean shikimate kinase isozymes. These sequences represent the first corn, rice, sorghum, soybean and wheat sequences encoding shikimate kinase.

Example 5

[0072] Expression of Chimeric Genes in Monocot Cells

[0073] A chimeric gene comprising a cDNA encoding the instant polypeptides in sense orientation with respect to the maize 27 kD zein promoter that is located 5′ to the cDNA fragment, and the 10 kD zein 3′ end that is located 3′ to the cDNA fragment, can be constructed. The cDNA fragment of this gene may be generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cDNA clone using appropriate oligonucleotide primers. Cloning sites (NcoI or SmaI) can be incorporated into the oligonucleotides to provide proper orientation of the DNA fragment when inserted into the digested vector pML103 as described below. Amplification is then performed in a standard PCR. The amplified DNA is then digested with restriction enzymes NcoI and SmaI and fractionated on an agarose gel. The appropriate band can be isolated from the gel and combined with a 4.9 kb NcoI-SmaI fragment of the plasmid pML103. Plasmid pML103 has been deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty at ATCC (American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209), and bears accession number ATCC 97366. The DNA segment from pML103 contains a 1.05 kb SalI-NcoI promoter fragment of the maize 27 kD zein gene and a 0.96 kb SmaI-SalI fragment from the 3′ end of the maize 10 kD zein gene in the vector pGem9Zf(+) (Promega). Vector and insert DNA can be ligated at 15° C. overnight, essentially as described (Maniatis). The ligated DNA may then be used to transform E. coli XL1-Blue (Epicurian Coli XL-1 Blue™; Stratagene). Bacterial transformants can be screened by restriction enzyme digestion of plasmid DNA and limited nucleotide sequence analysis using the dideoxy chain termination method (Sequenase™ DNA Sequencing Kit; U.S. Biochemical). The resulting plasmid construct would comprise a chimeric gene encoding, in the 5′ to 3′ direction, the maize 27 kD zein promoter, a cDNA fragment encoding the instant polypeptides, and the 10 kD zein 3′ region.

[0074] The chimeric gene described above can then be introduced into corn cells by the following procedure. Immature corn embryos can be dissected from developing caryopses derived from crosses of the inbred corn lines H99 and LH 132. The embryos are isolated 10 to 11 days after pollination when they are 1.0 to 1.5 mm long. The embryos are then placed with the axis-side facing down and in contact with agarose-solidified N6 medium (Chu et al. (1975) Sci. Sin. Peking 18:659-668). The embryos are kept in the dark at 27° C. Friable embryogenic callus consisting of undifferentiated masses of cells with somatic proembryoids and embryoids borne on suspensor structures proliferates from the scutellum of these immature embryos. The embryogenic callus isolated from the primary explant can be cultured on N6 medium and sub-cultured on this medium every 2 to 3 weeks.

[0075] The plasmid, p35S/Ac (obtained from Dr. Peter Eckes, Hoechst Ag, Frankfurt, Germany) may be used in transformation experiments in order to provide for a selectable marker. This plasmid contains the Pat gene (see European Patent Publication 0 242 236) which encodes phosphinothricin acetyl transferase (PAT). The enzyme PAT confers resistance to herbicidal glutamine synthetase inhibitors such as phosphinothricin. The pat gene in p35S/Ac is under the control of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812) and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

[0076] The particle bombardment method (Klein et al. (1987) Nature 327:70-73) may be used to transfer genes to the callus culture cells. According to this method, gold particles (1 μm in diameter) are coated with DNA using the following technique. Ten μg of plasmid DNAs are added to 50 μL of a suspension of gold particles (60 mg per mL). Calcium chloride (50 μL of a 2.5 M solution) and spermidine free base (20 μL of a 1.0 M solution) are added to the particles. The suspension is vortexed during the addition of these solutions. After 10 minutes, the tubes are briefly centrifuged (5 sec at 15,000 rpm) and the supernatant removed. The particles are resuspended in 200 μL of absolute ethanol, centrifuged again and the supernatant removed. The ethanol rinse is performed again and the particles resuspended in a final volume of 30 μL of ethanol. An aliquot (5 μL) of the DNA-coated gold particles can be placed in the center of a Kapton™ flying disc (Bio-Rad Labs). The particles are then accelerated into the corn tissue with a Biolistic™ PDS-1000/He (Bio-Rad Instruments, Hercules Calif.), using a helium pressure of 1000 psi, a gap distance of 0.5 cm and a flying distance of 1.0 cm.

[0077] For bombardment, the embryogenic tissue is placed on filter paper over agarose-solidified N6 medium. The tissue is arranged as a thin lawn and covered a circular area of about 5 cm in diameter. The petri dish containing the tissue can be placed in the chamber of the PDS-1000/He approximately 8 cm from the stopping screen. The air in the chamber is then evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches of Hg. The macrocarrier is accelerated with a helium shock wave using a rupture membrane that bursts when the He pressure in the shock tube reaches 1000 psi.

[0078] Seven days after bombardment the tissue can be transferred to N6 medium that contains gluphosinate (2 mg per liter) and lacks casein or proline. The tissue continues to grow slowly on this medium. After an additional 2 weeks the tissue can be transferred to fresh N6 medium containing gluphosinate. After 6 weeks, areas of about 1 cm in diameter of actively growing callus can be identified on some of the plates containing the glufosinate-supplemented medium. These calli may continue to grow when sub-cultured on the selective medium.

[0079] Plants can be regenerated from the transgenic callus by first transferring clusters of tissue to N6 medium supplemented with 0.2 mg per liter of 2,4-D. After two weeks the tissue can be transferred to regeneration medium (Fromm et al. (1990) Bio/Technology 8:833-839).

Example 6

[0080] Expression of Chimeric Genes in Dicot Cells

[0081] A seed-specific expression cassette composed of the promoter and transcription terminator from the gene encoding the β subunit of the seed storage protein phaseolin from the bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Doyle et al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261:9228-9238) can be used for expression of the instant polypeptides in transformed soybean. The phaseolin cassette includes about 500 nucleotides upstream (5′) from the translation initiation codon and about 1650 nucleotides downstream (3′) from the translation stop codon of phaseolin. Between the 5′ and 3′ regions are the unique restriction endonuclease sites Nco I (which includes the ATG translation initiation codon), Sma I, Kpn I and Xba I. The entire cassette is flanked by Hind III sites.

[0082] The cDNA fragment of this gene may be generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cDNA clone using appropriate oligonucleotide primers. Cloning sites can be incorporated into the oligonucleotides to provide proper orientation of the DNA fragment when inserted into the expression vector. Amplification is then performed as described above, and the isolated fragment is inserted into a pUC18 vector carrying the seed expression cassette.

[0083] Soybean embroys may then be transformed with the expression vector comprising sequences encoding the instant polypeptides. To induce somatic embryos, cotyledons, 3-5 mm in length dissected from surface sterilized, immature seeds of the soybean cultivar A2872, can be cultured in the light or dark at 26° C. on an appropriate agar medium for 6-10 weeks. Somatic embryos which produce secondary embryos are then excised and placed into a suitable liquid medium. After repeated selection for clusters of somatic embryos which multiplied as early, globular staged embryos, the suspensions are maintained as described below.

[0084] Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures can maintained in 35 mL liquid media on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, at 26° C. with florescent lights on a 16:8 hour day/night schedule. Cultures are subcultured every two weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 mL of liquid medium.

[0085] Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures may then be transformed by the method of particle gun bombardment (Klein et al. (1987) Nature (London) 327:70, U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050). A DuPont Biolistic™ PDS1000/HE instrument (helium retrofit) can be used for these transformations.

[0086] A selectable marker gene which can be used to facilitate soybean transformation is a chimeric gene composed of the 35S promoter from Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (Odell et al. (1985) Nature 313:810-812), the hygromycin phosphotransferase gene from plasmid pJR225 (from E. coli; Gritz et al.(1983) Gene 25:179-188) and the 3′ region of the nopaline synthase gene from the T-DNA of the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The seed expression cassette comprising the phaseolin 5′ region, the fragment encoding the instant polypeptides and the phaseolin 3′ region can be isolated as a restriction fragment. This fragment can then be inserted into a unique restriction site of the vector carrying the marker gene.

[0087] To 50 μL of a 60 mg/mL 1 μm gold particle suspension is added (in order): 5 μL DNA (1 μg/μL), 20 μl spermidine (0.1 M), and 50 μL CaCl₂ (2.5 M). The particle preparation is then agitated for three minutes, spun in a microfuge for 10 seconds and the supernatant removed. The DNA-coated particles are then washed once in 400 μL 70% ethanol and resuspended in 40 μL of anhydrous ethanol. The DNA/particle suspension can be sonicated three times for one second each. Five μL of the DNA-coated gold particles are then loaded on each macro carrier disk.

[0088] Approximately 300-400 mg of a two-week-old suspension culture is placed in an empty 60×15 mm petri dish and the residual liquid removed from the tissue with a pipette. For each transformation experiment, approximately 5-10 plates of tissue are normally bombarded. Membrane rupture pressure is set at 1100 psi and the chamber is evacuated to a vacuum of 28 inches mercury. The tissue is placed approximately 3.5 inches away from the retaining screen and bombarded three times. Following bombardment, the tissue can be divided in half and placed back into liquid and cultured as described above.

[0089] Five to seven days post bombardment, the liquid media may be exchanged with fresh media, and eleven to twelve days post bombardment with fresh media containing 50 mg/mL hygromycin. This selective media can be refreshed weekly. Seven to eight weeks post bombardment, green, transformed tissue may be observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters. Isolated green tissue is removed and inoculated into individual flasks to generate new, clonally propagated, transformed embryogenic suspension cultures. Each new line may be treated as an independent transformation event. These suspensions can then be subcultured and maintained as clusters of immature embryos or regenerated into whole plants by maturation and germination of individual somatic embryos.

Example 7

[0090] Expression of Chimeric Genes in Microbial Cells

[0091] The cDNAs encoding the instant polypeptides can be inserted into the T7 E. coli expression vector pBT430. This vector is a derivative of pET-3a (Rosenberg et al. (1987) Gene 56:125-135) which employs the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase/T7 promoter system. Plasmid pBT430 was constructed by first destroying the EcoR I and Hind III sites in pET-3a at their original positions. An oligonucleotide adaptor containing EcoR I and Hind III sites was inserted at the BamH I site of pET-3a. This created pET-3aM with additional unique cloning sites for insertion of genes into the expression vector. Then, the Nde I site at the position of translation initiation was converted to an Nco I site using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The DNA sequence of pET-3aM in this region, 5′-CATATGG, was converted to 5′-CCCATGG in pBT430.

[0092] Plasmid DNA containing a cDNA may be appropriately digested to release a nucleic acid fragment encoding the protein. This fragment may then be purified on a 1% NuSieve GTG™ low melting agarose gel (FMC). Buffer and agarose contain 10 μg/ml ethidium bromide for visualization of the DNA fragment. The fragment can then be purified from the agarose gel by digestion with GELase™ (Epicentre Technologies) according to the manufacturer's instructions, ethanol precipitated, dried and resuspended in 20 μL of water. Appropriate oligonucleotide adapters may be ligated to the fragment using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass.). The fragment containing the ligated adapters can be purified from the excess adapters using low melting agarose as described above. The vector pBT430 is digested, dephosphorylated with alkaline phosphatase (NEB) and deproteinized with phenol/chloroform as described above. The prepared vector pBT430 and fragment can then be ligated at 16° C. for 15 hours followed by transformation into DH5 electrocompetent cells (GIBCO BRL). Transformants can be selected on agar plates containing LB media and 100 μg/mL ampicillin. Transformants containing the gene encoding the instant polypeptides are then screened for the correct orientation with respect to the T7 promoter by restriction enzyme analysis.

[0093] For high level expression, a plasmid clone with the cDNA insert in the correct orientation relative to the T7 promoter can be transformed into E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) (Studier et al. (1986) J. Mol. Biol. 189:113-130). Cultures are grown in LB medium containing ampicillin (100 mg/L) at 25° C. At an optical density at 600 mn of approximately 1, IPTG (isopropylthio-β-galactoside, the inducer) can be added to a final concentration of 0.4 mM and incubation can be continued for 3 h at 25°. Cells are then harvested by centrifugation and re-suspended in 50 μL of 50 mM Tris-HCl at pH 8.0 containing 0.1 mM DTT and 0.2 mM phenyl methylsulfonyl fluoride. A small amount of 1 mm glass beads can be added and the mixture sonicated 3 times for about 5 seconds each time with a microprobe sonicator. The mixture is centrifuged and the protein concentration of the supernatant determined. One μg of protein from the soluble fraction of the culture can be separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gels can be observed for protein bands migrating at the expected molecular weight.

Example 8

[0094] Evaluating Compounds for Their Ability to Inhibit the Activity of Chorismate Biosynthetic Enzymes

[0095] The polypeptides described herein may be produced using any number of methods known to those skilled in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, expression in bacteria as described in Example 7, or expression in eukaryotic cell culture, in planta, and using viral expression systems in suitably infected organisms or cell lines. The instant polypeptides may be expressed either as mature forms of the proteins as observed in vivo or as fusion proteins by covalent attachment to a variety of enzymes, proteins or affinity tags. Common fusion protein partners include glutathione S-transferase (“GST”), thioredoxin (“Trx”), maltose binding protein, and C- and/or N-terminal hexahistidine polypeptide (“(His)₆”). The fusion proteins may be engineered with a protease recognition site at the fusion point so that fusion partners can be separated by protease digestion to yield intact mature enzyme. Examples of such proteases include thrombin, enterokinase and factor Xa. However, any protease can be used which specifically cleaves the peptide connecting the fusion protein and the enzyme.

[0096] Purification of the instant polypeptides, if desired, may utilize any number of separation technologies familiar to those skilled in the art of protein purification. Examples of such methods include, but are not limited to, homogenization, filtration, centrifugation, heat denaturation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, desalting, pH precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and affinity chromatography, wherein the affinity ligand represents a substrate, substrate analog or inhibitor. When the instant polypeptides are expressed as fusion proteins, the purification protocol may include the use of an affinity resin which is specific for the fusion protein tag attached to the expressed enzyme or an affinity resin containing ligands which are specific for the enzyme. For example, the instant polypeptides may be expressed as a fusion protein coupled to the C-terminus of thioredoxin. In addition, a (His)6 peptide may be engineered into the N-terminus of the fused thioredoxin moiety to afford additional opportunities for affinity purification. Other suitable affinity resins could be synthesized by linking the appropriate ligands to any suitable resin such as Sepharose-4B. In an alternate embodiment, a thioredoxin fusion protein may be eluted using dithiothreitol; however, elution may be accomplished using other reagents which interact to displace the thioredoxin from the resin. These reagents include β-mercaptoethanol or other reduced thiol. The eluted fusion protein may be subjected to further purification by traditional means as stated above, if desired. Proteolytic cleavage of the thioredoxin fusion protein and the enzyme may be accomplished after the fusion protein is purified or while the protein is still bound to the ThioBond™ affinity resin or other resin.

[0097] Crude, partially purified or purified enzyme, either alone or as a fusion protein, may be utilized in assays for the evaluation of compounds for their ability to inhibit enzymatic activation of the instant polypeptides disclosed herein. Assays may be conducted under well known experimental conditions which permit optimal enzymatic activity. Assays for dehydroquinase are presented by Mitsuhashi and Davis (1954) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 15: 54-61, Koshiba (1978) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 522:10-18, and Chaudhuri et al. (1987) Methods Enzymol. 143:320-324. Assays for shikimate dehydrogenase are presented by Balinsky and Davis (1961) Biochem. J. 80:292-296 and Lumsden and Coggins (1977) Biochem. J. 161:599-607. Assays for shikimate kinase are presented by De Feyter (1987) Methods Enzymol. 142:355-361, Bowen and Kosuge (1979) Plant Physiol. 64:382-386, and Smith and Coggins (1983) Biochem. J. 213:405-413.

1 28 1 1772 DNA Zea mays 1 ggcggataac aatttcacac aggaaacagc tatgaccatg attacgccaa gctctaatac 60 gactcactat agggaaagct ggtacgcctg caggtaccgg tccggaattc ccgggtcgac 120 ccacgcgtcc gccgctctcg tcacctacag gcccaagtgg gaaggaggcg aatacgaagg 180 cgatgacgat tcacggtttg aggctctgct attagcaatg gagctgggag ctgaatatgt 240 ggatgtcgag cttaaggtgg ctgacaaatt tatgaaactt atttctggga ggaaccctga 300 taactgtaaa cttatagttt catcccacaa ctatgagacc actccatcgt ccgaggaact 360 tgcaaatttg gtggctcaga ttcaagcaac gggggctgat atcgtgaaaa tagctacaac 420 cgctactgaa attgttgatg tggcaaaaat gtttcaaata cttgttcact gccaggaaaa 480 gcaggtgcca atcattgggc tgctgatgaa cgacagaggt tttatttctc gggttctttg 540 cccaaaatat ggtggattcc ttacttttgg gtcactcaag aaaggaaaag agtctgcacc 600 tgcacagcca actgctgcag acttgataaa tctgtacaat attaggcaga tagggccaga 660 cactaaggtc tttggtataa ttggtaaacc agttggccat agcaaaagcc caattttgca 720 taatgaagct ttcagatcag tgggtttcaa cgctgtgtat gttccatttt tggtggatga 780 cttggctaaa tttcttgata catactcttc accagacttt gctggcttca gttgcacaat 840 tccacacaaa gaagctgctg ttaggtgctg tgacgaggtc gatcccattg ccagggacat 900 tggagctgtt aacacaattg ttagaagacc tgatggaaag cttgttggct ataatactga 960 ctatgttggt gctatatctg ctattgagga tggaataaaa gcatcagaat cagaaccaac 1020 agatccagac aaatcaccac tggctggaag gctttttgtt gttatagggg ctggtggtgc 1080 gggaaaagca ctagcatatg gggcaaaaga gaaaggagca agagttgtaa ttgcaaaccg 1140 tacctttgca cgagcacaag aacttgccaa cttaattggt gggcctgcat tgactcttgc 1200 ggatttggaa aactaccatc cagaggaagg gatgattctt gcaaatacaa cagccattgg 1260 aatgcatcca aatgtgaatg aaactcctct atctaagcaa gcactcagat cttatgctgt 1320 tgtgtttgat gcggtctaca caccaaaaga gaccagactt ctccgagaag ctgcataatg 1380 tggagccaca gttgttagtg gtctggagat gtttatacgg caagctatgg gccagtttga 1440 gcatttcacg ggcatgccag ctccagatag cttgatgcgt gatattgttc tgacaaagac 1500 atagtgaggt ttgtccaaag agcaagcttc ccttccatcg taatttctgc acaattgatt 1560 ccagttgtgt cccctcctcg tccttcccgc atcttcctca acttgtagaa tccacattct 1620 ttttatctca ggtgtggaca taggattcat cttatgacat ttttcttatt acctaccaag 1680 atagagtttc attctctttg aagtatttga atgttgttta ttcagcaaac aatacaccat 1740 ttcaacaatg tttaagagtt cttactccaa aa 1772 2 458 PRT Zea mays 2 Ala Asp Asn Asn Phe Thr Gln Glu Thr Ala Met Thr Met Ile Thr Pro 1 5 10 15 Ser Ser Asn Thr Thr His Tyr Arg Glu Ser Trp Tyr Ala Cys Arg Tyr 20 25 30 Arg Ser Gly Ile Pro Gly Ser Thr His Ala Ser Ala Ala Leu Val Thr 35 40 45 Tyr Arg Pro Lys Trp Glu Gly Gly Glu Tyr Glu Gly Asp Asp Asp Ser 50 55 60 Arg Phe Glu Ala Leu Leu Leu Ala Met Glu Leu Gly Ala Glu Tyr Val 65 70 75 80 Asp Val Glu Leu Lys Val Ala Asp Lys Phe Met Lys Leu Ile Ser Gly 85 90 95 Arg Asn Pro Asp Asn Cys Lys Leu Ile Val Ser Ser His Asn Tyr Glu 100 105 110 Thr Thr Pro Ser Ser Glu Glu Leu Ala Asn Leu Val Ala Gln Ile Gln 115 120 125 Ala Thr Gly Ala Asp Ile Val Lys Ile Ala Thr Thr Ala Thr Glu Ile 130 135 140 Val Asp Val Ala Lys Met Phe Gln Ile Leu Val His Cys Gln Glu Lys 145 150 155 160 Gln Val Pro Ile Ile Gly Leu Leu Met Asn Asp Arg Gly Phe Ile Ser 165 170 175 Arg Val Leu Cys Pro Lys Tyr Gly Gly Phe Leu Thr Phe Gly Ser Leu 180 185 190 Lys Lys Gly Lys Glu Ser Ala Pro Ala Gln Pro Thr Ala Ala Asp Leu 195 200 205 Ile Asn Leu Tyr Asn Ile Arg Gln Ile Gly Pro Asp Thr Lys Val Phe 210 215 220 Gly Ile Ile Gly Lys Pro Val Gly His Ser Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu His 225 230 235 240 Asn Glu Ala Phe Arg Ser Val Gly Phe Asn Ala Val Tyr Val Pro Phe 245 250 255 Leu Val Asp Asp Leu Ala Lys Phe Leu Asp Thr Tyr Ser Ser Pro Asp 260 265 270 Phe Ala Gly Phe Ser Cys Thr Ile Pro His Lys Glu Ala Ala Val Arg 275 280 285 Cys Cys Asp Glu Val Asp Pro Ile Ala Arg Asp Ile Gly Ala Val Asn 290 295 300 Thr Ile Val Arg Arg Pro Asp Gly Lys Leu Val Gly Tyr Asn Thr Asp 305 310 315 320 Tyr Val Gly Ala Ile Ser Ala Ile Glu Asp Gly Ile Lys Ala Ser Glu 325 330 335 Ser Glu Pro Thr Asp Pro Asp Lys Ser Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Phe 340 345 350 Val Val Ile Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Lys Ala Leu Ala Tyr Gly Ala 355 360 365 Lys Glu Lys Gly Ala Arg Val Val Ile Ala Asn Arg Thr Phe Ala Arg 370 375 380 Ala Gln Glu Leu Ala Asn Leu Ile Gly Gly Pro Ala Leu Thr Leu Ala 385 390 395 400 Asp Leu Glu Asn Tyr His Pro Glu Glu Gly Met Ile Leu Ala Asn Thr 405 410 415 Thr Ala Ile Gly Met His Pro Asn Val Asn Glu Thr Pro Leu Ser Lys 420 425 430 Gln Ala Leu Arg Ser Tyr Ala Val Val Phe Asp Ala Val Tyr Thr Pro 435 440 445 Lys Glu Thr Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Ala Ala 450 455 3 1803 DNA Oryza sativa 3 gcacgagtgg taccagcttt atttctggca gtaagccaga gaagtgtaaa cttattgtct 60 catcacacaa ttatgaaagt actccgtcct gcgaggagct tgcagatctt gtggctagaa 120 tacaagcagt tggatctgac atagtgaaaa tcgcaacaac tgctagtgac attgctgatg 180 tgtcacgaat gttccaagtg atggtgcact gccaagtgcc tatgattgga ctagtgatgg 240 gcgaaaaagg tttaatgtca agggtgttat cccccaagtt tggaggatat ctaacctttg 300 ggactcttga tgctacaaag atatcagcac ctgggcagcc aaccgtcaaa gaactgttgg 360 acatttataa tataaggcgt ataggacctg atacaaaggt tcttggtctt attgccaacc 420 cagtaaaaca gagcaagagc ccaattttgc acaataaatg tcttcaatct attggataca 480 atgctgttta tcttccactt ttggcagatg accttgctcg atttctcagc acatattcat 540 ctccggattt ttcaggattc agttgctctc ttcctttcaa agtggacgct gtacagtgtt 600 gccatgaaca tgacccagtt gctaagtcaa tcggtgccat aaacaccata attaggagac 660 cagatggcaa actagtgggc tacaatactg actacattgg agcaatttct gctattgagg 720 atggcatagg aggcccagga tcaaaggatg ctgccatctc acctttggct ggcaggcttg 780 ttgttgttgt aggtgctggt ggagctggta aggcaattgc ttatggggca aaggagaagg 840 gtgcaagagt tgtagtagca aatcgtacct acgaaaaagc agtaagtctt gctgctgcag 900 tgggtggtca tgccctgaga ttagccgagc ttgaaacttt caggcctgaa gaagggatga 960 tccttgctaa tgcgacatca ttgggaatgt accccaatgt ggacggcacc cctatcccaa 1020 agaaagcatt aagcttctat gatgttgtat ttgatgcggt atatgccccg aaagttaccc 1080 ggcttctacg agaagcagaa gaatgtggga ttaaagttgt cagcggtgta gagatgtttg 1140 tcagacaagc catgggtcag tttgagcatt tcacaggtgg tattgaagct cctgaaagcc 1200 tgatgcgtga gatagctgcc aaatacacat aacaggcgaa tggcgaagcg acggttgtga 1260 gtaattagcc caaatattcc tctgggttaa gttaataaaa gttttggatg ccagcccaat 1320 tttgtgctag gtggagatta gttgttgtaa tgttcgattt cgccgactta acctgtcaga 1380 gatgtaaaca gaaagtgttc aatctcatca tacttgcaat aaagaatttg catgcataac 1440 tgcgcagttg cttgatgatc atgatgagtt ttaaggaaac aatacacatc aagctatgat 1500 caggtggttt catgttcatc attcgtaatg gaaccaatat ctgtgattgg caatgataca 1560 tcattgtaat attcagctgc ttatgctcta ctcctttcca ttgtacttca tgtcagtctg 1620 gagaagaaag gtgtacgtga ttgctggacg tttgacctat gaatgttcaa gtccattcag 1680 agaattatta tataaagctc tggtttatgc ctaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1740 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaac tcgagggggg cccgtacaca 1800 atg 1803 4 402 PRT Oryza sativa 4 Ile Ser Gly Ser Lys Pro Glu Lys Cys Lys Leu Ile Val Ser Ser His 1 5 10 15 Asn Tyr Glu Ser Thr Pro Ser Cys Glu Glu Leu Ala Asp Leu Val Ala 20 25 30 Arg Ile Gln Ala Val Gly Ser Asp Ile Val Lys Ile Ala Thr Thr Ala 35 40 45 Ser Asp Ile Ala Asp Val Ser Arg Met Phe Gln Val Met Val His Cys 50 55 60 Gln Val Pro Met Ile Gly Leu Val Met Gly Glu Lys Gly Leu Met Ser 65 70 75 80 Arg Val Leu Ser Pro Lys Phe Gly Gly Tyr Leu Thr Phe Gly Thr Leu 85 90 95 Asp Ala Thr Lys Ile Ser Ala Pro Gly Gln Pro Thr Val Lys Glu Leu 100 105 110 Leu Asp Ile Tyr Asn Ile Arg Arg Ile Gly Pro Asp Thr Lys Val Leu 115 120 125 Gly Leu Ile Ala Asn Pro Val Lys Gln Ser Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu His 130 135 140 Asn Lys Cys Leu Gln Ser Ile Gly Tyr Asn Ala Val Tyr Leu Pro Leu 145 150 155 160 Leu Ala Asp Asp Leu Ala Arg Phe Leu Ser Thr Tyr Ser Ser Pro Asp 165 170 175 Phe Ser Gly Phe Ser Cys Ser Leu Pro Phe Lys Val Asp Ala Val Gln 180 185 190 Cys Cys His Glu His Asp Pro Val Ala Lys Ser Ile Gly Ala Ile Asn 195 200 205 Thr Ile Ile Arg Arg Pro Asp Gly Lys Leu Val Gly Tyr Asn Thr Asp 210 215 220 Tyr Ile Gly Ala Ile Ser Ala Ile Glu Asp Gly Ile Gly Gly Pro Gly 225 230 235 240 Ser Lys Asp Ala Ala Ile Ser Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Val Val Val 245 250 255 Val Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala Gly Lys Ala Ile Ala Tyr Gly Ala Lys Glu 260 265 270 Lys Gly Ala Arg Val Val Val Ala Asn Arg Thr Tyr Glu Lys Ala Val 275 280 285 Ser Leu Ala Ala Ala Val Gly Gly His Ala Leu Arg Leu Ala Glu Leu 290 295 300 Glu Thr Phe Arg Pro Glu Glu Gly Met Ile Leu Ala Asn Ala Thr Ser 305 310 315 320 Leu Gly Met Tyr Pro Asn Val Asp Gly Thr Pro Ile Pro Lys Lys Ala 325 330 335 Leu Ser Phe Tyr Asp Val Val Phe Asp Ala Val Tyr Ala Pro Lys Val 340 345 350 Thr Arg Leu Leu Arg Glu Ala Glu Glu Cys Gly Ile Lys Val Val Ser 355 360 365 Gly Val Glu Met Phe Val Arg Gln Ala Met Gly Gln Phe Glu His Phe 370 375 380 Thr Gly Gly Ile Glu Ala Pro Glu Ser Leu Met Arg Glu Ile Ala Ala 385 390 395 400 Lys Tyr 5 1815 DNA Glycine max 5 caacgctttg tctaccgctc cggcagcggg tagtaggaag aacgcgacgc taatttgcgt 60 cccaataatg ggagaatcag ttgaaaagat ggagattgac gtggacaaag cgaaagccgg 120 aggcgcggac cttgttgaaa ttcgattgga ttctttgaaa acctttgacc cctatcgaga 180 tctcaacgct ttcattcaac accgttcttt acccttgttg ttcacttaca ggcccaaatg 240 ggagggtggt atgtatgatg gtgatgaaaa taaacggctg gatgcacttc ggttagccat 300 ggagttggga gctgattaca ttgacattga acttcaggta gcacatgagt tctatgactc 360 tatacgtggg aagacattca ataaaaccaa ggtcattgtt tcatctcaca actatcagct 420 tactccttca attgaggatc ttggtaacct tgtagcaaga atacaagcaa cgggagcaga 480 cattgtgaag attgcaacaa ctgccttgga catcactgat gtggcacgca tgtttcaaat 540 aatggtgcat tctcaagttc catttattgg acttgttatg ggtgataggg ggttgatttc 600 tcgtatactt tctgcaaaat ttggtggata tctcactttt ggtacccttg agtcaggagt 660 tgtttcagct cctggtcaac ctactcttaa ggatctattg tatctataca atttaagaca 720 actggctcct gatacaaaag tatttgggat tattggaaag cctgtcggtc acagtaaatc 780 acccatatta ttcaatgaag tcttcaagtc aattggtttg aatggtgttt atctattttt 840 attggtggat gaccttgcca attttctcag gacttactct tctacagatt ttgtgggatt 900 cagtgttacc attcctcaca aggagacagc acttaagtgt tgtgatgagg ttgatccagt 960 ggctaagtca ataggagctg tgaattgcat tgtaagaaga ccaactgacg ggaaattgat 1020 tgggtataac actgattatg ttggtgctat tactgcaatt gagaatgggt tacgaggtaa 1080 acataatggt agtagcacaa ctatttctcc attagctggt aagctgtttg ttgttattgg 1140 ggctggtggt gctgggaagg cacttgctta tggtgcaaaa gcaaaaggag ctagggttgt 1200 gattgcaaac cgtacctatg accatgccag aaaacttgct tatgcaattg gaggagatgc 1260 tttagccctt gctgatttag ataattacca tccggaggat ggtatgattc ttgcaaacac 1320 aacatcaatt ggaatgcaac ctaaagttga tgagacgcct gtttctaagc acgctttgaa 1380 atattactcc ctagtttttg atgctgtcta cacgcccaag attactagac tcttgaaaga 1440 agcagaagaa tcaggagcca ctattgtaac aggattggag atgtttatgg ggcaagcata 1500 tggacaatat gagaatttca ccggattacc agcaccaaag gagctcttca gaaaaattat 1560 ggaaaactat tgaagagtga tcggttatct ttgcaacaca atcaaagaat ctaatggcga 1620 ggtactttaa agtgtttagg atgtgaatga ggaggtatcc tccccgttct actttcaatt 1680 tttcaaagtc ctttttattg aaatcaacaa atgattttgt atctcaatta gagtgtattt 1740 ggatagagaa ttttaactga ggagactaat ttatcagaga atttaaattt tttttaattt 1800 aaaatttatt atttg 1815 6 523 PRT Glycine max 6 Asn Ala Leu Ser Thr Ala Pro Ala Ala Gly Ser Arg Lys Asn Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Cys Val Pro Ile Met Gly Glu Ser Val Glu Lys Met Glu Ile 20 25 30 Asp Val Asp Lys Ala Lys Ala Gly Gly Ala Asp Leu Val Glu Ile Arg 35 40 45 Leu Asp Ser Leu Lys Thr Phe Asp Pro Tyr Arg Asp Leu Asn Ala Phe 50 55 60 Ile Gln His Arg Ser Leu Pro Leu Leu Phe Thr Tyr Arg Pro Lys Trp 65 70 75 80 Glu Gly Gly Met Tyr Asp Gly Asp Glu Asn Lys Arg Leu Asp Ala Leu 85 90 95 Arg Leu Ala Met Glu Leu Gly Ala Asp Tyr Ile Asp Ile Glu Leu Gln 100 105 110 Val Ala His Glu Phe Tyr Asp Ser Ile Arg Gly Lys Thr Phe Asn Lys 115 120 125 Thr Lys Val Ile Val Ser Ser His Asn Tyr Gln Leu Thr Pro Ser Ile 130 135 140 Glu Asp Leu Gly Asn Leu Val Ala Arg Ile Gln Ala Thr Gly Ala Asp 145 150 155 160 Ile Val Lys Ile Ala Thr Thr Ala Leu Asp Ile Thr Asp Val Ala Arg 165 170 175 Met Phe Gln Ile Met Val His Ser Gln Val Pro Phe Ile Gly Leu Val 180 185 190 Met Gly Asp Arg Gly Leu Ile Ser Arg Ile Leu Ser Ala Lys Phe Gly 195 200 205 Gly Tyr Leu Thr Phe Gly Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly Val Val Ser Ala Pro 210 215 220 Gly Gln Pro Thr Leu Lys Asp Leu Leu Tyr Leu Tyr Asn Leu Arg Gln 225 230 235 240 Leu Ala Pro Asp Thr Lys Val Phe Gly Ile Ile Gly Lys Pro Val Gly 245 250 255 His Ser Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu Phe Asn Glu Val Phe Lys Ser Ile Gly 260 265 270 Leu Asn Gly Val Tyr Leu Phe Leu Leu Val Asp Asp Leu Ala Asn Phe 275 280 285 Leu Arg Thr Tyr Ser Ser Thr Asp Phe Val Gly Phe Ser Val Thr Ile 290 295 300 Pro His Lys Glu Thr Ala Leu Lys Cys Cys Asp Glu Val Asp Pro Val 305 310 315 320 Ala Lys Ser Ile Gly Ala Val Asn Cys Ile Val Arg Arg Pro Thr Asp 325 330 335 Gly Lys Leu Ile Gly Tyr Asn Thr Asp Tyr Val Gly Ala Ile Thr Ala 340 345 350 Ile Glu Asn Gly Leu Arg Gly Lys His Asn Gly Ser Ser Thr Thr Ile 355 360 365 Ser Pro Leu Ala Gly Lys Leu Phe Val Val Ile Gly Ala Gly Gly Ala 370 375 380 Gly Lys Ala Leu Ala Tyr Gly Ala Lys Ala Lys Gly Ala Arg Val Val 385 390 395 400 Ile Ala Asn Arg Thr Tyr Asp His Ala Arg Lys Leu Ala Tyr Ala Ile 405 410 415 Gly Gly Asp Ala Leu Ala Leu Ala Asp Leu Asp Asn Tyr His Pro Glu 420 425 430 Asp Gly Met Ile Leu Ala Asn Thr Thr Ser Ile Gly Met Gln Pro Lys 435 440 445 Val Asp Glu Thr Pro Val Ser Lys His Ala Leu Lys Tyr Tyr Ser Leu 450 455 460 Val Phe Asp Ala Val Tyr Thr Pro Lys Ile Thr Arg Leu Leu Lys Glu 465 470 475 480 Ala Glu Glu Ser Gly Ala Thr Ile Val Thr Gly Leu Glu Met Phe Met 485 490 495 Gly Gln Ala Tyr Gly Gln Tyr Glu Asn Phe Thr Gly Leu Pro Ala Pro 500 505 510 Lys Glu Leu Phe Arg Lys Ile Met Glu Asn Tyr 515 520 7 539 DNA Triticum aestivum 7 ctggtgatga acgacagagg ttttatttct cgtgttcttt gccccaaatt cggtggatac 60 cttacttttg gctctcttga aaaaggaaaa gaatctgcac cttcacagcc aaccgctgca 120 gacttgatca atgtgtacaa cattagacag ataggcccag atactaaggt gtttggtatt 180 attggaaatc ctgttggaca cagtaaaagc ccgattttgc ataatgaagc tttcagatca 240 gtgggtttga atgctgtgta tgtgccattt ttggtggatg acttggctaa atttctttcg 300 acctactctt caccagactt tgctggcttc agttgtacaa ttccccacaa ggaagctgca 360 gttaggtgct gtgatgaggt tgatcctatt gccagggaca ttggagctgt taatacaatt 420 attagaaaac ctgatgggaa acttgtaggc tacaatactg attatgtcgg tgcaatttct 480 gctattgaag atggaataag agcaacacaa ccaacgcatt ctagcaccgg ctctcgtgc 539 8 176 PRT Triticum aestivum 8 Leu Val Met Asn Asp Arg Gly Phe Ile Ser Arg Val Leu Cys Pro Lys 1 5 10 15 Phe Gly Gly Tyr Leu Thr Phe Gly Ser Leu Glu Lys Gly Lys Glu Ser 20 25 30 Ala Pro Ser Gln Pro Thr Ala Ala Asp Leu Ile Asn Val Tyr Asn Ile 35 40 45 Arg Gln Ile Gly Pro Asp Thr Lys Val Phe Gly Ile Ile Gly Asn Pro 50 55 60 Val Gly His Ser Lys Ser Pro Ile Leu His Asn Glu Ala Phe Arg Ser 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Leu Asn Ala Val Tyr Val Pro Phe Leu Val Asp Asp Leu Ala 85 90 95 Lys Phe Leu Ser Thr Tyr Ser Ser Pro Asp Phe Ala Gly Phe Ser Cys 100 105 110 Thr Ile Pro His Lys Glu Ala Ala Val Arg Cys Cys Asp Glu Val Asp 115 120 125 Pro Ile Ala Arg Asp Ile Gly Ala Val Asn Thr Ile Ile Arg Lys Pro 130 135 140 Asp Gly Lys Leu Val Gly Tyr Asn Thr Asp Tyr Val Gly Ala Ile Ser 145 150 155 160 Ala Ile Glu Asp Gly Ile Arg Ala Thr Gln Pro Thr His Ser Ser Thr 165 170 175 9 1200 DNA Zea mays 9 ccgccaccag ctaccctgcc ttctctctcc tcttctttac acctcacctc cggatcgctc 60 agagagtcag agattcgagt tgagctatag gcgtagccga ctggtcgccg cgtcccctct 120 cggctccacc cggcgagcga acaatggagg cggggggcgt cggcctggcg ctgcaggcgc 180 gggcggcggg cttcggctcc agccggcacc ggggcggcct acaggcgccc accgggagcc 240 tgagagtcgc tgacccggcg ggacctgcgg tcgctgtgcg ggctcgcggg tccaagcccg 300 tcgcaccgct ccgactccgt gcgaagaaat cgtccggagg tcatgaaaac tcgcacaact 360 ccgttgacga agctctcctg ttgaagagaa aatcagaaga agttctgttc tacttgaacg 420 ggaggtgtat ttacctagta ggaatgatgg gttctggaaa aagtactgtg gggaagatta 480 tgtctgaagt cttgggttat tcgttctttg atagtgacaa gttagtggag caagctgttg 540 gaatgccatc agttgcccaa atattcaagg tccatagtga agccttcttt cgggataatg 600 agagtagtgt cttgagagat ttgtcctcca tgcgacgatt agttgttgcc accggaggtg 660 gtgctgttat ccgaccaatt aactggagat atatgaagag gggcctatct gtttggttag 720 atgtgccctt ggatgctctt gctaggcgta ttgctaaagt gggaactgcc tctcgtcctc 780 ttctggacca accatctggt gatccgtacg caatggcctt ttctaagctc agcatgcttg 840 cacagcaaag gggtgatgct tatgcaaatg cagatgtaag ggtttctctg gaagagattg 900 catgtaaaca aggtcatgat gatgtctcta agctgacacc tactgatatt gcaattgagt 960 cacttcataa gatcgagagc ttcgtcatcg agcacactgc tgatagttca gctagcgacg 1020 cgcaagctga gtcgcagatc cagaggatac agaccttgta gaaccttaat ccctttgttt 1080 gccacataga gcatcgttga gttatttgta aaggaatgga agaagggagc taataatccg 1140 aagtgtgccg ttggctgaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1200 10 305 PRT Zea mays 10 Met Glu Ala Gly Gly Val Gly Leu Ala Leu Gln Ala Arg Ala Ala Gly 1 5 10 15 Phe Gly Ser Ser Arg His Arg Gly Gly Leu Gln Ala Pro Thr Gly Ser 20 25 30 Leu Arg Val Ala Asp Pro Ala Gly Pro Ala Val Ala Val Arg Ala Arg 35 40 45 Gly Ser Lys Pro Val Ala Pro Leu Arg Leu Arg Ala Lys Lys Ser Ser 50 55 60 Gly Gly His Glu Asn Ser His Asn Ser Val Asp Glu Ala Leu Leu Leu 65 70 75 80 Lys Arg Lys Ser Glu Glu Val Leu Phe Tyr Leu Asn Gly Arg Cys Ile 85 90 95 Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Val Gly Lys Ile 100 105 110 Met Ser Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Phe Phe Asp Ser Asp Lys Leu Val 115 120 125 Glu Gln Ala Val Gly Met Pro Ser Val Ala Gln Ile Phe Lys Val His 130 135 140 Ser Glu Ala Phe Phe Arg Asp Asn Glu Ser Ser Val Leu Arg Asp Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Ser Met Arg Arg Leu Val Val Ala Thr Gly Gly Gly Ala Val Ile 165 170 175 Arg Pro Ile Asn Trp Arg Tyr Met Lys Arg Gly Leu Ser Val Trp Leu 180 185 190 Asp Val Pro Leu Asp Ala Leu Ala Arg Arg Ile Ala Lys Val Gly Thr 195 200 205 Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Leu Asp Gln Pro Ser Gly Asp Pro Tyr Ala Met 210 215 220 Ala Phe Ser Lys Leu Ser Met Leu Ala Gln Gln Arg Gly Asp Ala Tyr 225 230 235 240 Ala Asn Ala Asp Val Arg Val Ser Leu Glu Glu Ile Ala Cys Lys Gln 245 250 255 Gly His Asp Asp Val Ser Lys Leu Thr Pro Thr Asp Ile Ala Ile Glu 260 265 270 Ser Leu His Lys Ile Glu Ser Phe Val Ile Glu His Thr Ala Asp Ser 275 280 285 Ser Ala Ser Asp Ala Gln Ala Glu Ser Gln Ile Gln Arg Ile Gln Thr 290 295 300 Leu 305 11 899 DNA Zea mays 11 gcacgaggcg caatctgcag gtggaacagg aaaggtccac tactctgctg atgacgctct 60 catactacag caaaaagccc aggatgttct gccttacttg gatggccgtt gcgtttatct 120 tgttggaatg atgggttcag gcaaaactac agttgggaag atactatccg aagtgttagg 180 ttattcgttc ttcgacagtg ataagttggt agagaaggct gttggtattt catctgttgc 240 tgagatcttt cagctccata gcgaaacatt cttcagagat aatgagagtg aggtcctgac 300 ggatctgtca tcaatgcatc ggttggttgt tgcaaccgga ggtggtgcag tgatccgacc 360 aatcaattgg agttacatga agaaagggct gaccgtatgg ttagatgtcc cactggatgc 420 acttgcaaga agaatcgctg ctgtaggaac cgcgtctcga ccactcttgc atcaggaatc 480 cggtgatcct tatgcaaagg cttatgcaaa acttacgtca ctttttgagc aaagaatgga 540 ctcgtatgct aatgctgatg ccagagtttc acttgaacat attgcattaa aacaaggcca 600 taatgatgtc actatactta cacctagtac catcgccatt gaggcattgc taaagatgga 660 aagttttctt accgagaaga ccatggtcag aaactgacct cttgaatgag agggaaagga 720 tgctgacaac atgtggccct tgtttgttta attgtacata tacctttgca ttattgccta 780 aactctttct acagtgttgt tggattattg tttgtgcagc atgaaagagg accgtttgag 840 tttgtattta tgcaaatgaa taagtaaata actttcagtt aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 899 12 231 PRT Zea mays 12 His Glu Ala Gln Ser Ala Gly Gly Thr Gly Lys Val His Tyr Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 Asp Asp Ala Leu Ile Leu Gln Gln Lys Ala Gln Asp Val Leu Pro Tyr 20 25 30 Leu Asp Gly Arg Cys Val Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys 35 40 45 Thr Thr Val Gly Lys Ile Leu Ser Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Phe Phe 50 55 60 Asp Ser Asp Lys Leu Val Glu Lys Ala Val Gly Ile Ser Ser Val Ala 65 70 75 80 Glu Ile Phe Gln Leu His Ser Glu Thr Phe Phe Arg Asp Asn Glu Ser 85 90 95 Glu Val Leu Thr Asp Leu Ser Ser Met His Arg Leu Val Val Ala Thr 100 105 110 Gly Gly Gly Ala Val Ile Arg Pro Ile Asn Trp Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys 115 120 125 Gly Leu Thr Val Trp Leu Asp Val Pro Leu Asp Ala Leu Ala Arg Arg 130 135 140 Ile Ala Ala Val Gly Thr Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Leu His Gln Glu Ser 145 150 155 160 Gly Asp Pro Tyr Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Lys Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Glu 165 170 175 Gln Arg Met Asp Ser Tyr Ala Asn Ala Asp Ala Arg Val Ser Leu Glu 180 185 190 His Ile Ala Leu Lys Gln Gly His Asn Asp Val Thr Ile Leu Thr Pro 195 200 205 Ser Thr Ile Ala Ile Glu Ala Leu Leu Lys Met Glu Ser Phe Leu Thr 210 215 220 Glu Lys Thr Met Val Arg Asn 225 230 13 1077 DNA Zea mays unsure (387) unsure (1036) unsure (1038) unsure (1076) 13 gcgatgcgag cagctacagc ggcggcgaca ggcttcttct ctccatccac cgtccctccg 60 aggcgcttct cgtccgttac accgccggcg tcactctgca ccgcgcgctg catccagcgt 120 caccgtctcc gcgccttccc aagctcggaa atacctctag aggaactcaa cccatccgtc 180 gatctactta ggagaactgc ggaggccgtt ggcgatttca ggaaaacgcc aatctatatt 240 gttggtacgg attgcacagc caagcgcaac atcgccaagc tgcttgcgaa ttccataata 300 taccgctacc tcagcagtga ggaactgctt gaggatgttc ttggtggcaa ggacgccctc 360 agagccttca aggaatctga tgagaanggt tatcttgaag tcgagacgga agggttaaag 420 cagctcacgt ccatgggtaa ccttgtactg tgctgtggag atggcgccgt tatgaactca 480 accaatctaa ggctgctgaa gcatggtgtc tccatttgga ttgatgttcc tcttgaaatg 540 gcaacaaatg acatgttgaa gaacacggga acacaagcta ctacagatcc agactctttt 600 tctcaggcga tgagcaagct ccgtcagcgg tatgatgaac tgaaagagcg ctatggggtt 660 tctgatatta ctgtttcagt acaaaatgtg gcttctcagc gggggtacag tagcattgac 720 ttggtgacgc ttgaggacat ggtccttgaa atcgtgaggc aaatcgagaa gctgatccgt 780 gcaaaggaga tgatggaagc tgcagggaag ccattctaaa caagatacac atacacaata 840 gttctgctcc ggcataccta ttttctggcc agttaccaag acctccgatg cttcgctgtt 900 caagaaaccg attgcagttg cctacggctc aaagcacaag cgcgtgaaat ctaaggaact 960 gaatctggtt gttccactcg aatatgctta tattgtattg caagatcact tgccaaaaaa 1020 aaaaaaaaaa aactcnangg gggggcccgg tacccaattc cccctaaaat ggagtnc 1077 14 272 PRT Zea mays UNSURE (129) 14 Ala Met Arg Ala Ala Thr Ala Ala Ala Thr Gly Phe Phe Ser Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Val Pro Pro Arg Arg Phe Ser Ser Val Thr Pro Pro Ala Ser Leu 20 25 30 Cys Thr Ala Arg Cys Ile Gln Arg His Arg Leu Arg Ala Phe Pro Ser 35 40 45 Ser Glu Ile Pro Leu Glu Glu Leu Asn Pro Ser Val Asp Leu Leu Arg 50 55 60 Arg Thr Ala Glu Ala Val Gly Asp Phe Arg Lys Thr Pro Ile Tyr Ile 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Thr Asp Cys Thr Ala Lys Arg Asn Ile Ala Lys Leu Leu Ala 85 90 95 Asn Ser Ile Ile Tyr Arg Tyr Leu Ser Ser Glu Glu Leu Leu Glu Asp 100 105 110 Val Leu Gly Gly Lys Asp Ala Leu Arg Ala Phe Lys Glu Ser Asp Glu 115 120 125 Xaa Gly Tyr Leu Glu Val Glu Thr Glu Gly Leu Lys Gln Leu Thr Ser 130 135 140 Met Gly Asn Leu Val Leu Cys Cys Gly Asp Gly Ala Val Met Asn Ser 145 150 155 160 Thr Asn Leu Arg Leu Leu Lys His Gly Val Ser Ile Trp Ile Asp Val 165 170 175 Pro Leu Glu Met Ala Thr Asn Asp Met Leu Lys Asn Thr Gly Thr Gln 180 185 190 Ala Thr Thr Asp Pro Asp Ser Phe Ser Gln Ala Met Ser Lys Leu Arg 195 200 205 Gln Arg Tyr Asp Glu Leu Lys Glu Arg Tyr Gly Val Ser Asp Ile Thr 210 215 220 Val Ser Val Gln Asn Val Ala Ser Gln Arg Gly Tyr Ser Ser Ile Asp 225 230 235 240 Leu Val Thr Leu Glu Asp Met Val Leu Glu Ile Val Arg Gln Ile Glu 245 250 255 Lys Leu Ile Arg Ala Lys Glu Met Met Glu Ala Ala Gly Lys Pro Phe 260 265 270 15 544 DNA Oryza sativa 15 gcacgagctt acacctctct ctctctctct cctcttcaat tctctctcta cctccgctgc 60 ggagctcgcc gcgtagcaat ggaggcgggc gtggggctgg cgctgcagtc gcgggcggcg 120 gggttcggcg gctccgaccg ccgccggagc gcgctctacg gcggcgaggg gcgggcgcgg 180 atcgggagct tgagggtcgc tgagccggcg gtggcgaagg ccgctgtgtg ggctcgcggg 240 tccaagccgg tcgccccgct ccgtgccaag aaatcgtccg gaggtcatga aacattgcat 300 aactcggttg atgaagccct cttgctaaag agaaaatcag aagaagttct cttctatttg 360 aatggacggt gtatttacct agttggaatg atgggttctg gaaaaagtac tgtgggaaag 420 atcatgtctg aagttttggg ttattcggtc tttgatagtg ataaattggt caacaagctg 480 tgggcatgcc ttcagtcgct caaattttca agggtcatag tgaagccttc cttaaggata 540 gtgg 544 16 155 PRT Oryza sativa 16 Met Glu Ala Gly Val Gly Leu Ala Leu Gln Ser Arg Ala Ala Gly Phe 1 5 10 15 Gly Gly Ser Asp Arg Arg Arg Ser Ala Leu Tyr Gly Gly Glu Gly Arg 20 25 30 Ala Arg Ile Gly Ser Leu Arg Val Ala Glu Pro Ala Val Ala Lys Ala 35 40 45 Ala Val Trp Ala Arg Gly Ser Lys Pro Val Ala Pro Leu Arg Ala Lys 50 55 60 Lys Ser Ser Gly Gly His Glu Thr Leu His Asn Ser Val Asp Glu Ala 65 70 75 80 Leu Leu Leu Lys Arg Lys Ser Glu Glu Val Leu Phe Tyr Leu Asn Gly 85 90 95 Arg Cys Ile Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Val 100 105 110 Gly Lys Ile Met Ser Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Val Phe Asp Ser Asp 115 120 125 Lys Leu Val Gln Gln Ala Val Gly Met Pro Ser Val Ala Gln Ile Phe 130 135 140 Lys Gly His Ser Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Asp Ser 145 150 155 17 1098 DNA Oryza sativa 17 gcacgagctt acaattaagt cttctgagac tatatggttc attgatgagg atcaattggt 60 agtgaatcta aagaaagttg agcaagagct gaaatggccc gacattgatg aatcttggga 120 atcccttact tctggaatca ctcagctttt gacagggatt agtgttcata ttgttggtga 180 ttccacagat ataaacgagg cagttgctaa agaaatagct gagggaattg gttaccttcc 240 agtctgcaca agtgagctgc tagaaagtgc caccgaaaag tctattgaca aatggttggc 300 ttcggaagga gtggattcgg tagcagaagc tgaatgtgtt gtgctggaaa gccttagcag 360 ccatgttcgt acagtcgtag caactctggg gggaaagcaa ggagcagcta gcagatttga 420 taaatggcag tatcttcatg ctggatttac ggtttggttg tcggtctccg atgccagcga 480 tgaagcttct gccaaagaag aggcccgtag aagtgtgagc tcgggaaatg ttgcgtacgc 540 gaaagctgat gtagtagtga agcttggtgg atgggatccg gagtacacac gagctgttgc 600 ccagggttgc cttgtggcct tgaagcagct aacattggca gacaagaagc tagcaggtaa 660 gaagagccta tacatgaggc tgggatgccg aggggattgg cccaacatcg agcctcccgg 720 ctgggatcct gactccgacg caccacccac caacatatga ttttcatact cagtactcac 780 tagtagtagt atatatacag tacatgattc tcattctagc ctcttcgtcg tcgcttttct 840 tctctctgga ggcgcttcag ttccatggaa tccacattca cggggcattt cccagattca 900 gctttagctg tgtcatggca tcttttcttt gcagccagct actacacgag attcttactg 960 ctagtaaaat actcttgtgt tactacagtt tgaaactttc gtgccactat tttttaagct 1020 gtgccaaaac tgccagatct catggcaaat ataaaccata acaaaacctt gcttcaaaaa 1080 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1098 18 252 PRT Oryza sativa 18 His Glu Leu Thr Ile Lys Ser Ser Glu Thr Ile Trp Phe Ile Asp Glu 1 5 10 15 Asp Gln Leu Val Val Asn Leu Lys Lys Val Glu Gln Glu Leu Lys Trp 20 25 30 Pro Asp Ile Asp Glu Ser Trp Glu Ser Leu Thr Ser Gly Ile Thr Gln 35 40 45 Leu Leu Thr Gly Ile Ser Val His Ile Val Gly Asp Ser Thr Asp Ile 50 55 60 Asn Glu Ala Val Ala Lys Glu Ile Ala Glu Gly Ile Gly Tyr Leu Pro 65 70 75 80 Val Cys Thr Ser Glu Leu Leu Glu Ser Ala Thr Glu Lys Ser Ile Asp 85 90 95 Lys Trp Leu Ala Ser Glu Gly Val Asp Ser Val Ala Glu Ala Glu Cys 100 105 110 Val Val Leu Glu Ser Leu Ser Ser His Val Arg Thr Val Val Ala Thr 115 120 125 Leu Gly Gly Lys Gln Gly Ala Ala Ser Arg Phe Asp Lys Trp Gln Tyr 130 135 140 Leu His Ala Gly Phe Thr Val Trp Leu Ser Val Ser Asp Ala Ser Asp 145 150 155 160 Glu Ala Ser Ala Lys Glu Glu Ala Arg Arg Ser Val Ser Ser Gly Asn 165 170 175 Val Ala Tyr Ala Lys Ala Asp Val Val Val Lys Leu Gly Gly Trp Asp 180 185 190 Pro Glu Tyr Thr Arg Ala Val Ala Gln Gly Cys Leu Val Ala Leu Lys 195 200 205 Gln Leu Thr Leu Ala Asp Lys Lys Leu Ala Gly Lys Lys Ser Leu Tyr 210 215 220 Met Arg Leu Gly Cys Arg Gly Asp Trp Pro Asn Ile Glu Pro Pro Gly 225 230 235 240 Trp Asp Pro Asp Ser Asp Ala Pro Pro Thr Asn Ile 245 250 19 960 DNA Sorghum 19 gcacgaggcg ggtcctgccc tccgtcccgc aaagctgaga gtttcgtgct ccgcgaaatc 60 ggcaggaaca ggaaaagtcc actattctac tgacgaggct ctcatactac agcaaaaggc 120 ccaggatgtt ctcccttact tggatggccg atgcgtttat cttgttggaa tgatgggttc 180 aggcaaaact acagttggga agatattagc cgaagtatta ggttattcgt tctttgacag 240 tgataagctg gtagagaagg ctgttggtat ctcatctgtt gctgagatct ttcagctcca 300 tagtgaagca ttcttcagag ataatgagag tgaggtcctg agggatctgt catcaatgca 360 tcggttggtt gttgcaaccg gaggtggtgc agtgatccga ccaatcaatt ggagttacat 420 gaagaaaggg ctgactgtgt ggttagacgt tccactggat gcacttgcaa gaagaattgc 480 tgctgtagga accgcatctc gaccactctt gcatcaggaa tctggtgacc cttatgcaaa 540 ggcttatgcg aaacttacat cactttttga gcaaagaatg gactcgtatg ctaatgctga 600 tgccagagtt tcacttgaac atattgcatt aaaacaaggc cataatgatg tcactatact 660 tacacctagt gccatcgcca ttgaggcatt gctaaagatg gaaagttttc ttaccgagaa 720 gaccatggtc agaaactgat tgcttgtatg tgagcaaaag gatgctcaca acatatggcc 780 cttgtttgtt taattgtaca tatacctttg cataaactct ttctgcagtg ttgttcaaca 840 tgaaagagga ccgtttgagt ttgtacttgt gcaaatgaat aagtaaatag ctttcagtta 900 ggacaaaaaa aaaaaaagcc aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 960 20 245 PRT Sorghum 20 His Glu Ala Gly Pro Ala Leu Arg Pro Ala Lys Leu Arg Val Ser Cys 1 5 10 15 Ser Ala Lys Ser Ala Gly Thr Gly Lys Val His Tyr Ser Thr Asp Glu 20 25 30 Ala Leu Ile Leu Gln Gln Lys Ala Gln Asp Val Leu Pro Tyr Leu Asp 35 40 45 Gly Arg Cys Val Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys Thr Thr 50 55 60 Val Gly Lys Ile Leu Ala Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Phe Phe Asp Ser 65 70 75 80 Asp Lys Leu Val Glu Lys Ala Val Gly Ile Ser Ser Val Ala Glu Ile 85 90 95 Phe Gln Leu His Ser Glu Ala Phe Phe Arg Asp Asn Glu Ser Glu Val 100 105 110 Leu Arg Asp Leu Ser Ser Met His Arg Leu Val Val Ala Thr Gly Gly 115 120 125 Gly Ala Val Ile Arg Pro Ile Asn Trp Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys Gly Leu 130 135 140 Thr Val Trp Leu Asp Val Pro Leu Asp Ala Leu Ala Arg Arg Ile Ala 145 150 155 160 Ala Val Gly Thr Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Leu His Gln Glu Ser Gly Asp 165 170 175 Pro Tyr Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Lys Leu Thr Ser Leu Phe Glu Gln Arg 180 185 190 Met Asp Ser Tyr Ala Asn Ala Asp Ala Arg Val Ser Leu Glu His Ile 195 200 205 Ala Leu Lys Gln Gly His Asn Asp Val Thr Ile Leu Thr Pro Ser Ala 210 215 220 Ile Ala Ile Glu Ala Leu Leu Lys Met Glu Ser Phe Leu Thr Glu Lys 225 230 235 240 Thr Met Val Arg Asn 245 21 1183 DNA Glycine max 21 gcacgaggcc tgtgccacag gaacactcct ctcccacttc ttaatcgccc ttccaatttt 60 cttcaattca agcaccaaaa ctccttcctc aagttcccga acccaaacct ccatcgactg 120 cgcaggctca attgctcagt atcagacggc accgtttcgt cttcgcttgg tgccacggac 180 tcgtctcttg cggtgaagaa gaaagcagca gaggtgtctt ctgagctcaa agggacctcc 240 atatttctgg ttggtttgaa gagctctctt aaaactagtt tggggaagct gctggctgat 300 gcattgcggt attattattt cgacagtgat agtttggtgg aagaagctgt aggtggtgca 360 ctggctgcaa aatcattcag agagagtgac gaaaaaggct tctatgagtc tgagactgaa 420 gtactgaagc aattatcgtc catgggtcga ctagtggttt gtgcaggaaa tggcactgtt 480 acaagctcca ctaatctggg ccttctgaga catgggattt cattatggat tgatgtgcct 540 ctagattttg tggccagaga tgtaattgaa gataagagtc aatttgctcc atctgaaata 600 tctatttcag gatcataccc agaggtacag gatgaactag gtgctctgta cgataaatac 660 agagttggat atgctacagc tgatgctatt atttcagttc aaaaagtagt ttctcggctg 720 ggttgtgata acttagatga aattacaaga gaagacatgg ctttggaggc tcttagggaa 780 attgagaagt tgaccagagt aaagaagatg caggaagagg ctgcaagacc attttaacca 840 acttggacat gctcccttcc tttacccgga atcaaattgg acaatctaaa catttttaaa 900 tttgcaatcc ctgtgttagc ttctcaaatt tcagttttct ttttagttgt tttcctttga 960 aatttcagtc ttcctattgt tgttgttgtt ttaagactta ctctgtacta tagtgttata 1020 taggggagga gaaaaatact cctttctgta cctccaatac aacttttttg cctacttttt 1080 ttttcttctt tttatcaatg attacttgat ttcttcctga aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1140 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaac tcgagggggg cccgtacaca atc 1183 22 278 PRT Glycine max 22 Ala Arg Gly Leu Cys His Arg Asn Thr Pro Leu Pro Leu Leu Asn Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Ser Asn Phe Leu Gln Phe Lys His Gln Asn Ser Phe Leu Lys Phe 20 25 30 Pro Asn Pro Asn Leu His Arg Leu Arg Arg Leu Asn Cys Ser Val Ser 35 40 45 Asp Gly Thr Val Ser Ser Ser Leu Gly Ala Thr Asp Ser Ser Leu Ala 50 55 60 Val Lys Lys Lys Ala Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Glu Leu Lys Gly Thr Ser 65 70 75 80 Ile Phe Leu Val Gly Leu Lys Ser Ser Leu Lys Thr Ser Leu Gly Lys 85 90 95 Leu Leu Ala Asp Ala Leu Arg Tyr Tyr Tyr Phe Asp Ser Asp Ser Leu 100 105 110 Val Glu Glu Ala Val Gly Gly Ala Leu Ala Ala Lys Ser Phe Arg Glu 115 120 125 Ser Asp Glu Lys Gly Phe Tyr Glu Ser Glu Thr Glu Val Leu Lys Gln 130 135 140 Leu Ser Ser Met Gly Arg Leu Val Val Cys Ala Gly Asn Gly Thr Val 145 150 155 160 Thr Ser Ser Thr Asn Leu Gly Leu Leu Arg His Gly Ile Ser Leu Trp 165 170 175 Ile Asp Val Pro Leu Asp Phe Val Ala Arg Asp Val Ile Glu Asp Lys 180 185 190 Ser Gln Phe Ala Pro Ser Glu Ile Ser Ile Ser Gly Ser Tyr Pro Glu 195 200 205 Val Gln Asp Glu Leu Gly Ala Leu Tyr Asp Lys Tyr Arg Val Gly Tyr 210 215 220 Ala Thr Ala Asp Ala Ile Ile Ser Val Gln Lys Val Val Ser Arg Leu 225 230 235 240 Gly Cys Asp Asn Leu Asp Glu Ile Thr Arg Glu Asp Met Ala Leu Glu 245 250 255 Ala Leu Arg Glu Ile Glu Lys Leu Thr Arg Val Lys Lys Met Gln Glu 260 265 270 Glu Ala Ala Arg Pro Phe 275 23 519 DNA Glycine max 23 gcacgagagg gaattatgca gaaagaaaaa ttgagggaaa aaaactgcgt ggtttgagca 60 atggatgtta aagctgcaca gaggttacaa ctttcagcgg tggttcaacc cgaaaggttt 120 gggagaagac caccattcag tacatgtcgt ttgggtgtgt ctcgggaacc gcagagcctt 180 cgggtttttg tttcgccaat gatgatgcgg cgcagaacaa ccgctttgga ggtttcctct 240 tcttacgaca acatttcagc ttcaattttg gaatctggga gcgttcatgc tcctcttgat 300 gaagagctga ttctaaagaa tagatcacaa gagacccagc catatttaaa tggacgctgt 360 atttatcttg ttggaatgat gggctctggg aaaacaacag tggggaagat aatgtcgcaa 420 gtgcttggtt attcattttg tgatagtgat gcattggtgg aggacgacgt tggtggaaac 480 tctgtagccg atatatttga gcaacatggt gagactttc 519 24 153 PRT Glycine max 24 Met Asp Val Lys Ala Ala Gln Arg Leu Gln Leu Ser Ala Val Val Gln 1 5 10 15 Pro Glu Arg Phe Gly Arg Arg Pro Pro Phe Ser Thr Cys Arg Leu Gly 20 25 30 Val Ser Arg Glu Pro Gln Ser Leu Arg Val Phe Val Ser Pro Met Met 35 40 45 Met Arg Arg Arg Thr Thr Ala Leu Glu Val Ser Ser Ser Tyr Asp Asn 50 55 60 Ile Ser Ala Ser Ile Leu Glu Ser Gly Ser Val His Ala Pro Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Glu Glu Leu Ile Leu Lys Asn Arg Ser Gln Glu Thr Gln Pro Tyr Leu 85 90 95 Asn Gly Arg Cys Ile Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys Thr 100 105 110 Thr Val Gly Lys Ile Met Ser Gln Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Phe Cys Asp 115 120 125 Ser Asp Ala Leu Val Glu Asp Asp Val Gly Gly Asn Ser Val Ala Asp 130 135 140 Ile Phe Glu Gln His Gly Glu Thr Phe 145 150 25 1323 DNA Triticum aestivum 25 gcacgaggcc aaacgacgga agccgcaggg attccccccg gcgacagtgc cggcggtgag 60 gctcgaccag aatccggcgc ggcggccgct ggtcctgcgc accgacgcgg ggagccggag 120 caccgatccc atccgtggcg ccagcctcaa ggccctgtgc tgccacaaat cggcaggtac 180 tgagaaagcc cactattctg ctgatgaggc tctcgtacta aagcaaaaag cagaggacgt 240 gctcccttac ctgaatgacc gctgtgttta tctagttgga atgatgggtt ccggcaaaac 300 tacagttggg aagataatag ctgaagtact aggctattca ttctttgaca gtgataagct 360 ggttgagcag tctgttggca taccgtcggt ggctgagatt tttcaggtcc acagtgaagc 420 attcttcaga gataacgaga gtgaggtact aagggatttg tcgtcaatgc accgattaat 480 tgttgcaaca ggaggtggtg cggtgatacg accaatcaat tggagttata tgaagaaagg 540 actcactatt tggttagatg ttccattgga cgcccttgca agaaggattg ctgcggttgg 600 tactgcgtca cgacccctcc tgcatcagga atctggtgat ccttatgcaa aggcctatgc 660 caaacttaca gcactttttg aacaaagaat ggattcatat gctaatgctg atgcccgagt 720 ttcccttgaa aatattgcat tcaaacaagg acataatgat gtgaatgtac ttacaccaag 780 tgccatcgct attgaggcat tgctaaagat ggagagcttt cttactgaga aggccatggt 840 cagaaactga ccagatctcg gtggttacca agaaagatga caaccaacgg ttcttggttg 900 ccgtgatgta catacctttg cataagacat tcttctgata tagccagagc tatgacagag 960 gataacttgg gtttttactt gagtgaacta tatgtgaata gctctaaatt aagacaatgt 1020 ttgtcttgtc tttatcttgc tgcgatttga tatatgggat ttgggagtaa atagctatat 1080 catcgttaag tgatatccct tgtacatttt gacacaacca taatttacat caacatacta 1140 ctttgaggca gataattatt gatgtctcct acctcgcctc cttgccacgg tccctcatta 1200 cttataacct cctatcagat tctactgtat cccccggggg gggcccggtc tccaactctc 1260 cacatcgtga ctctattcac tcgcccctaa atggcctctc ttttttaaaa gtgcctgggt 1320 ggg 1323 26 282 PRT Triticum aestivum 26 His Glu Ala Lys Arg Arg Lys Pro Gln Gly Phe Pro Pro Ala Thr Val 1 5 10 15 Pro Ala Val Arg Leu Asp Gln Asn Pro Ala Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Leu 20 25 30 Arg Thr Asp Ala Gly Ser Arg Ser Thr Asp Pro Ile Arg Gly Ala Ser 35 40 45 Leu Lys Ala Leu Cys Cys His Lys Ser Ala Gly Thr Glu Lys Ala His 50 55 60 Tyr Ser Ala Asp Glu Ala Leu Val Leu Lys Gln Lys Ala Glu Asp Val 65 70 75 80 Leu Pro Tyr Leu Asn Asp Arg Cys Val Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly 85 90 95 Ser Gly Lys Thr Thr Val Gly Lys Ile Ile Ala Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr 100 105 110 Ser Phe Phe Asp Ser Asp Lys Leu Val Glu Gln Ser Val Gly Ile Pro 115 120 125 Ser Val Ala Glu Ile Phe Gln Val His Ser Glu Ala Phe Phe Arg Asp 130 135 140 Asn Glu Ser Glu Val Leu Arg Asp Leu Ser Ser Met His Arg Leu Ile 145 150 155 160 Val Ala Thr Gly Gly Gly Ala Val Ile Arg Pro Ile Asn Trp Ser Tyr 165 170 175 Met Lys Lys Gly Leu Thr Ile Trp Leu Asp Val Pro Leu Asp Ala Leu 180 185 190 Ala Arg Arg Ile Ala Ala Val Gly Thr Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Leu His 195 200 205 Gln Glu Ser Gly Asp Pro Tyr Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Lys Leu Thr Ala 210 215 220 Leu Phe Glu Gln Arg Met Asp Ser Tyr Ala Asn Ala Asp Ala Arg Val 225 230 235 240 Ser Leu Glu Asn Ile Ala Phe Lys Gln Gly His Asn Asp Val Asn Val 245 250 255 Leu Thr Pro Ser Ala Ile Ala Ile Glu Ala Leu Leu Lys Met Glu Ser 260 265 270 Phe Leu Thr Glu Lys Ala Met Val Arg Asn 275 280 27 1061 DNA Triticum aestivum 27 gcacgaggtg agcttgcgtg tcagtgatct ggtggggtcg ccggccgccg tgcgcgcgcg 60 cggggccaag cccgtcgtcc cgctccgcgc caagaaatcg tctggaggag gtcatgagaa 120 cttgcataac tccgttgacg atgccctctt gttgaagaga aaatcagaag aggttctttt 180 ccagttgaac ggtcggtgca tctacctagt tggaatgatg ggttcgggga aaagtacggt 240 ggggaagatc ttggctgaag ttttgggtta ttcattcttc gacagtgata aattggtcga 300 acaagctgtt ggcatgcctt cagttgctca aattttcaag gttcatagtg aagccttctt 360 cagagataat gagagtagtg tcttgaggga tttgtcctca atgcggcgat tagttgttgc 420 tactggaggt ggtgctgtta tccgaccagt taactggaaa aatatgaaga agggcctatc 480 tgtttggttg gatgtgccct tggaagctct tgcaaggcgt attgctaaag tggggactgc 540 ctcgcgtcct cttctagatc aaccatccgg tgatccatac acaatggcct tttcgaaact 600 cagcatgctc gcggagcaaa ggggcgatgc ttatgcaaat gctgatgtca gagtttctct 660 cgaagagatc gcatctaagc tgggtcatga cgacgtctct aagctgacac cgattgatat 720 tgctctcgag tcgctccaca agatcgagag ctttgtcgtc gaagacaccg ctgtcgccga 780 ctcacaaacg gaatcgcaat ctcaaaggat gcataccttg taggatatga atcctttttg 840 taccatgtag agcgcggcgc ggcccagcac agctgagtta ttcattcgtt gtatcgacca 900 ggaggaagcg ctggagtgtc ttttctttgt aagctgtaaa atggcggaat aatggagcta 960 atataaagat ccttgtgggt tgaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1020 aaaaaaacaa aaaaaaatct ggaggggtga gccgtactcg t 1061 28 273 PRT Triticum aestivum 28 His Glu Val Ser Leu Arg Val Ser Asp Leu Val Gly Ser Pro Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Arg Ala Arg Gly Ala Lys Pro Val Val Pro Leu Arg Ala Lys Lys 20 25 30 Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly His Glu Asn Leu His Asn Ser Val Asp Asp Ala 35 40 45 Leu Leu Leu Lys Arg Lys Ser Glu Glu Val Leu Phe Gln Leu Asn Gly 50 55 60 Arg Cys Ile Tyr Leu Val Gly Met Met Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Thr Val 65 70 75 80 Gly Lys Ile Leu Ala Glu Val Leu Gly Tyr Ser Phe Phe Asp Ser Asp 85 90 95 Lys Leu Val Glu Gln Ala Val Gly Met Pro Ser Val Ala Gln Ile Phe 100 105 110 Lys Val His Ser Glu Ala Phe Phe Arg Asp Asn Glu Ser Ser Val Leu 115 120 125 Arg Asp Leu Ser Ser Met Arg Arg Leu Val Val Ala Thr Gly Gly Gly 130 135 140 Ala Val Ile Arg Pro Val Asn Trp Lys Asn Met Lys Lys Gly Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Val Trp Leu Asp Val Pro Leu Glu Ala Leu Ala Arg Arg Ile Ala Lys 165 170 175 Val Gly Thr Ala Ser Arg Pro Leu Leu Asp Gln Pro Ser Gly Asp Pro 180 185 190 Tyr Thr Met Ala Phe Ser Lys Leu Ser Met Leu Ala Glu Gln Arg Gly 195 200 205 Asp Ala Tyr Ala Asn Ala Asp Val Arg Val Ser Leu Glu Glu Ile Ala 210 215 220 Ser Lys Leu Gly His Asp Asp Val Ser Lys Leu Thr Pro Ile Asp Ile 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Glu Ser Leu His Lys Ile Glu Ser Phe Val Val Glu Asp Thr 245 250 255 Ala Val Ala Asp Ser Gln Thr Glu Ser Gln Ser Gln Arg Met His Thr 260 265 270 Leu 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a dehydroquinase/shikimate dehydrogenase comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6 and SEQ ID NO:8; (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a).
 2. The isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 1 wherein nucleic acid fragment is a functional RNA.
 3. The isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 1 wherein the nucleotide sequence of the fragment comprises the sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO:7.
 4. A chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment of claim 1 operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.
 5. A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim
 4. 6. An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a shikimate kinase comprising a member selected from the group consisting of: (a) an isolated nucleic acid fragment comprising at least 400 nucleotides wherein the nucleic acid fragment encodes an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:18, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:24, SEQ ID NO:26 and SEQ ID NO:28; (b) an isolated nucleic acid fragment that is complementary to (a).
 7. The isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 6 wherein nucleic acid fragment is a functional RNA.
 8. The isolated nucleic acid fragment of claim 6 wherein the nucleotide sequence of the fragment comprises the sequence set forth in a member selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:19, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ ID NO:25 and SEQ ID NO:27.
 9. A chimeric gene comprising the nucleic acid fragment of claim 6 operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences.
 10. A transformed host cell comprising the chimeric gene of claim
 9. 11. A method for evaluating at least one compound for its ability to inhibit the activity of a chorismate biosynthetic enzyme, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transforming a host cell with a chimeric gene comprising a nucleic acid fragment encoding a chorismate biosynthetic enzyme, operably linked to suitable regulatory sequences; (b) growing the transformed host cell under conditions that are suitable for expression of the chimeric gene wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme encoded by the operably linked nucleic acid fragment in the transformed host cell; (c) optionally purifying the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme expressed by the transformed host cell; (d) treating the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme with a compound to be tested; and (e) comparing the activity of the chorismate biosynthetic enzyme that has been treated with a test compound to the activity of an untreated chorismate biosynthetic enzyme, thereby selecting compounds with potential for inhibitory activity. 